PUBLISHED  BY 

American  Poultry  Association 


mifc  ^.  p.  pm  pbrarg 


^ortl|  Olaroitna  ^tate  College 

5r469 
P1A5 


S00820014   F 


The 

Plj^mouth  Rock  Standard 

and  Breed  Book 

A  COMPLETE  DESCRIPTION  OF 

ALL   VARIETIES   OF  PLYMOUTH  ROCKS,  WITH   THE 

TEXT  IN  FULL  FROM  THE  LATEST  (1915)  REVISED 

EDITION  OF  THE  AMERICAN  STANDARD   OF 

PERFECTION    AS    IT    RELATES    TO    ALL 

VARIETIES     OF    PLYMOUTH     ROCKS 

ALSO,  WITH  TREATISES  ON  BREEDING,  REARING 
FEEDING,    HOUSING,     CONDITIONING     FOR      ' 
EXHIBITIONS,    EXHIBITING  — ETC 


BY  A.  C.  SMITH 

PROFESSOR  OF  POULTRY  HUSBANDRY  UNIVERSITY 

OF   MINNESOTA   AND    CONTRIBUTING    AUTHORS 

(See  List  of  Contributing  Authors  on  Page  Nine) 


ILLUSTRATIONS 
BY  FRANKLANE  L.  SEWELL 


Printed  and  Published  by 
THE  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 


TO  WHOM  IT  MAY  COXVElfy  : 

The  puhlic  is  ea-p'-cssh;  forhUhhu.  mi  jicmtltii  of  the  Uiir. 
to  reiirodiicc,  (Jiiplicdic.  cupii.  \rr7,-  to  iiiiitnlc  or  to  tiniJrc  a)n/ 
iiii/iroiKr  «.vr  of  inn/  of  tlie  iHiistniti'iiis  i-ontiihicil  hi  tliix 
liook.  all  of  irhk:h  are  the  e.rcliisiire  propi  rtii  of  7'lic  \  i,i(iii<ni 
I'oiittiii  Association,  and  protected  hy  copiiriiilii  in  ilir  t  nitiil 
sfiitc.s.  Kiititand  and  Canada.  Permission  to  make  i/iiotntions 
from  tlic  text  of  this  hook  is  granted,  prorided  siirJi  quota- 
tions are  diseonnectcd,  few  in  number,  and  are  used  soleli/ 
for  the  dissemination  of  knoicledge;  hut  these  quotations 
must  not  he  used  to  an  extent  nor  in  a  manner  that  iritl 
injure  the  sale  of  this  work,  nor  may  they  he  used  for 
advertising  purposes,  as  in  circulars,  catalofiues,  etc 

Notice  is  hereby  gircn  ttnit  iiini  infriniirwnit  of  the  lojii/- 
riyht  on  the  contents  of  tliis  JiooJ:  irill  result  in  iiiiniciliiili 
prosecution. 

THE   AMElilC.W    I'Ol  LTin    ASSOCI  \TIO\ . 


CofnirJiitit.   t  nited  States,  England  and  Caiiadn.    101!). 
Copi/rinlit.   sironil   Edition,  United  States.   lUiiihiml  mid    Ciimnh, 

THi:    WIEincW    J'Ol  l.TRV   ASSOCIATION. 
All    h'ights    h'eserrcd. 


INTRODUCTION 

TO   THE   1915  REVISED    EDITION   OF   THE 
AMERICAN    STANDARD    OF    PERFECTION 

THE  organization  of  the  American  Poultry  Association  was 
effected  at  Buffalo.  New  York.  February,  1873,  by  delegates 
from  different  state  and  county  associations,  prominent 
breeders,  fanciers,  and  other  interested  persons  from  different 
sections  of  the  United  States  and  Canada.  Mr.  W.  H.  Church- 
man of  Wilmington.  Delaware,  was  the  first  president  and  Mr. 
J.  M.  Wade  of  Philadelphia,  the  first  secretary. 

At  that  time  the  fundamental  object  of  this  organization  was 
to  standardize  the  different  varieties  of  domestic  and  ornamental 
fowls,  and  to  that  end.  a  complete  Standard  of  Excellence,  for  all 
varieties  then  recognized,  was  formulated  and  adopted  which 
was  recommended  as  the  guide  for  judging-  at  all  poultry  exhi- 
bitions. The  American  Poultry  Association  has  since  broadened 
its  scope  and  annual  conventions  have  visited  nearly  all  of  our 
large  industrial  centers. 

The  first  edition  of  the  Standard  was  issued  in  February, 
1874.  It  has  been  followed  by  several  revised  editions,  but  the 
work  of  the  first  Standard  makers  was  so  thorough,  accurate 
and  far-seeing  that  but  few  changes,  and  these  of  minor  impor- 
tance, have  been  necessary.  Many  new  breeds  and  varieties, 
nearly  all  of  later  origin,  have  been  admitted.  After  a  few 
editions,  the  title  "Standard  of  Excellence"  was  changed  to  read 
".Standard  of  Perfection"  as  one.  theoretically  at  least,  more  in 
accord  with  its  prescribed  ideals. 

Until  1905,  all  editions  contained  text  descriptions  only,  and 
no  attempt  was  made  to  delineate  ideal  fowls.  The  1905  edition 
contains  this  innovation.  The  illustrations  were  line  drawings 
by  the  best  known  poultry  artists  of  that  time.  These  were 
received  with  approval,  in  sufficient  measure  so  that  the  plan  of 
presenting  outline  illustrations  of  many  of  the  leading  varieties 
were  continued.    The  type  of  illustrations  was.  however,  changed 


1322? 


4  .ll/Zv-W/rMA    J'OI  l/rh'V  ASSOC!  AT  J  OA 

to  half-tone  illustrations  of  retouched  and  idealized  photographs 
of  living  specimens.  These  appeared  in  the  1910  edition  after 
having  been  approved  by  the  Thirty-fifth  Annual  Convention. 

It  has  been  the  general  polic}-  of  the  American  Poultry  Asso- 
ciation to  revise  the  Standard  of  Perfection  every  five  years,  this 
work  being  most  carefully  done  by  Revision  Committees  chosen 
to  represent  as  far  as  possible  the  interests  of  all  sections  of  the 
country  and  of  the  different  breed  classifications. 

The  last  Revision  Committee  was  appointed  at  the  Thirty- 
sixth  Annual  Meeting  at  Denver,  Colorado,  1911,  and  the  present 
or  1915  edition  of  the  Standard  of  Perfection  includes  the 
changes  and  additions  made  by  this  Committee  with  such  further 
changes  or  amendments  as  were  voted  by  the  Association  at 
its  Thirtv-eiglith  and  Thirty-ninth  Annual  Meetings  in  1913 
and  1914^ 

The  1915  Standard  is  the  basis  for  the  present  work,  "The 
Plymouth  Rock  Standard  and  Breed  Book,"  every  detail  apply- 
ing to  this  breed  in  the  main  Standard  being  reproduced  ver- 
batim in  this  work. 


PLYMOVTH  ROCK  iiTANDARD  ANU  BRKKD  HOOK 


PREFACE 

TO  THE  PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD 
AND  BREED  BOOK 

FOR  a  number  of  years  there  has  been  a  growing  demand 
among  poultry  breeders  for  the  publication  by  the  American 
Poultry  Association  of  what  are  popularly  known  as  Sep- 
arate Breed  Standards — a  series  of  books,  each  one  containing 
the  official  Standard  description  of  a  single  breed,  and  in  addi- 
tion, reliable  and  authoritative  information  in  regard  to  the 
actual  breeding  of  such  fowls. 

This  work  the  Association  has  now  undertaken  and  this 
Plymouth  Rock  Breed  Standard,  the  first  of  the  series,  will  be 
followed  promptly  by  the  Wyandotte  Breed  Standard.  It  is  the 
intention  that  additional  numbers  of  the  series  shall  follow  as 
rapidly  as  is  practicable. 

The  first  step  taken  by  the  American  Poultry  Association 
toward  the  construction  and  publication  of  Breed  Books,  referred 
to  at  that  time  and  even  yet,  as  Breed  Standards,  was  the  adop- 
tion at  the  Thirty-second  Annual  Meeting,  Buffalo,  August  15, 
1910,  of  a  resolution  presented  by  Grant  M.  Curtis. 

The  presentation  and  adoption  of  this  resolution  was  the 
outcome  of  a  demand,  more  or  less  general  on  the  part  of  the 
breeders,  for  separate  "Breed  Standards,"  each  of  which  would 
describe  completely  one  breed  only,  in  addition  to  the  complete 
work,  the  "American  Standard  of  Perfection,"  which  gives  a 
description  of  best  shape  and  color  type  of  all  breeds  and  varie- 
ties recognized  by  the  American  Poultry  Association,  as  well  as 
illustrations  of  both  the  ideal  male  and  female  of  many  of  the 
leading  varieties ;  also,  rules  by  which  all  breeds  and  varieties 
are  judged  at  the  poultry  exhibitions  of  the  United  States  and 
Canada,  and  graphic  illustrations  of  the  ideal  comb,  feather 
markings  and  the  most  common  defects  of  standard  fowls  in 
shape,  color,  and  markings. 

By  the  terms  of  the  resolution,  the  scope  of  the  work  was 
much   more   comprehensive   than   the   breeders    in   general    had 


v,  AMi:u/('.\\  I'oii/ruY  associviiok 

expected,  and  yet.  by  subsequent  action  of  the  Association,  the 
scope  of  this  work  was  to  be  still  greatly  enlarged.  In  another 
section  will  be  noticed  the  method  of  ascertaining-  by  eminently 
fair  means  the  relative  popularity  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada  of  the  dififerent  Standard  breeds  of  poultry. 

The  report  of  the  Secretary-Treasurer  at  the  Thirty-third 
Annual  Meeting  of  the  Association  in  August  of  1908,  showed 
that,  according  to  the  certified  reports  of  the  Secretaries  of 
Poultry  Associati(jns.  holding-  shows  between  October  31st,  1907, 
and  March  1st.  1908.  in  the  United  States  and  Canada,  the 
Plymouth  Rocks  led  all  other  breeds  in  numl)er  of  birds  ex- 
hibited. 

At  the  Thirty-sixth  Annual  Meeting  at  Denver,  August  6-9, 
1911,  a  resolution  was  passed,  providing  for  a  Plymouth  Rock 
Breed  Standard,  as  the  lirst  in  the  series,  and  creating  a  com- 
mittee to  edit  and  publish  the  same. 

The  Committee  appointed,  consisting  of  D.  M.  Green,  S.  A. 
Noftzger,  W.  C.  Denney,  U.  R.  Fishel  and  A.  C.  Smith  as  Chair- 
man, representing,  as  actual  breeders,  five  of  the  six  Plymouth 
Rock  varieties.  As  yet,  the  scope  of  the  work  has  not  extended 
beyond  that  outlined  earlier  in  this  article,  the  idea  being  to 
give  besides  the  descrii)tions.  illustrations,  definitions,  graphic 
sketches,  instructions  to  judges,  etc.,  as  found  in  the  Standard 
of  Perfection,  a  more  complete  history  of  each  variety,  a  more 
complete  and  clearer  description  of  the  shape  and  plumage,  the 
common  defects  of  each,  and  colored  illustrations  of  the  best 
natural  feathers  that  could  be  secured. 

The  committee  as  above  named,  presented  a  report  with  com.- 
plete  manuscript,  but  with  no  new  illustrations,  to  the  Thirty- 
seventh  Annual  Convention  at  Nashville,  Tennessee.  1912,  but 
because  the  time  to  elapse  before  the  next  revision  was  held  to 
be  too  short  to  warrant  the  expense  of  a  work  of  this  kind,  the 
Association  voted  to  withhold  publication  until  after  the  next 
(1915)  general  revision  of  the  Standard  of  Perfection. 

At  the  Thirty-eighth  Annual  Meeting  at  Atlantic  City, 
August,  1913,  this  committee  sat  in  conference  with  the  leading 
breeders  of  Plymouth  Rock  varieties  and  others  interested  and 
as  the  result  of  these  conferences,  the  committee  made  a  report 
which  outlined  a  breed  standard  embodying  several  new  features, 
such  as  articles  on  single  and  double  matings,  art'Icles  especially 
adapted  to  the  needs  of  beginners  on  mating  the  d'.rferent  varie- 
ties, illustrations  showing"  the  relative  proporcior.?  of  the  dift'erent 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  ST.WDARD  AND  BREED  HOOK  7 

sections,  and  the  various  markings  found  in  the  phunage  of  the 
different  varieties. 

The  Thirty-eighth  and  Thirty-ninth  Annual  Meetings 
merely  ratified  the  action  of  the  Thirty-seventh  in  expressing  a 
determination  to  pubHsh  Breed  Standards  after  the  publication 
of  the  1915  Revision  of  the  Standard  of  Perfection,  which  was 
not  effected  until  the  Fortieth  Annual  Meeting  at  San  Francisco, 
November,  1915. 

By  the  action  of  the  Association  at  this  meeting,  the  Breed 
Standards  were  put  into  the  hands  of  the  Standing  Standard 
Committee,  and  by  the  terms  of  the  same  resolution,  this  com- 
mittee was  empowered  to  employ  artists,  clerks,  editors,  etc..  to 
proceed  with  the  work,  the  expense  of  which  was  to  be  met  by 
an  approprition  of  the  Association  of  $2,000. 

A  Breed  Standard  Committee  was  appointed  at  the  San 
Francisco  meeting,  consisting  of 

Grant  M.  Curtis 
F.  F.  Richards 
Arthur  C.  Smith 
W.  S.  Russell 
VV.  R.  Graham 

This  Committee  held  a  meeting  at  San  Francisco  immediately 
after  the  adjournment  of  the  Convention  and  another  was  held 
later  at  Bufifalo,  New  York. 

This  meeting,  in  April,  1916,  was  attended  by  Messrs.  Curtis 
and  Smith  for  the  committee,  the  late  Secretary  Campbell  repre- 
senting President  Richards,  Artists  Sewell  and  Schilling,  and  a 
few  members  of  the  Association  who  were  called  for  consulta- 
tion. At  this  meeting  the  text  and  illustrations  for  the  breed 
Standards  were  outlined  in  detail  and  a  complete  table  of  con- 
tents adopted,  work  upon  which  immediately  began.  Many  of 
these  illustrations  were  exhibited  at  the  Forty-first  Annual  Meet- 
ing at  Cleveland,  Ohio.  The  meeting  received  the  report  of  the 
committee  and  an  appropriation  to  complete  this  work  and  ptvb- 
lish  3.000  copies  was  voted  by  the  Association. 

Later,  the  personnel  of  this  committee  was  somewhat  changed 
by  the  resignations  of  Messrs.  Curtis  and  Graham  and  the 
appointments  of  Messrs.  H.  A.  Nourse  and  T.  F.  McGrew. 


AM  ERIC  AX  rOVL'/'/n    ASSOOfATfON 


INTRODUCTION 

THAT  the  reader  may  get  a  correct  understanding  of  the 
scope  and  purposes  of  both  the  American  Standard  of 
Perfection  and  the  separate  Breed  Standards,  a  few  explan- 
ator}'  statements  will  be  made  at  this  point.  First,  the  separate 
Breed  Standards  are  designed  to  supplement  the  Standard  of 
Perfection  and  not  to  supplant  it.  Again,  the  Standard  of  Per- 
fection is  a  fully  illustrated,  well  printed,  and  neatly  bound 
volume  of  368  pages ;  that  gives  a  complete  though  necessarily 
somewhat  concise  description  of  all  breeds  and  varieties  recog- 
nized by  the  American  Poultry  Association  as  Standard-bred 
poultry,  as  well  as  illustrations  of  both  the  ideal  male  and  female 
of  most  of  the  leading  varieties  ;  also,  rules  by  which  all  breeds 
and  varieties  are  judged  at  the  poultry  exhibitions  of  the  United 
States  and  Canada,  and  graphic  illustrations  of  ideal  combs, 
feather  markings,  and  the  most  serious  defects  of  standard-bred 
fowls  in  shape,  color,  and  markings.  It  is  the  poultry  breeder's 
official  guide,  and  is  almost  indispensable  to  all  who  are  directly 
interested  in  the  breeding  of  what  is  commonly  known  as  "pure- 
bred fowls." 

For  the  separate  Breed  Standard,  it  has  been  argued  that  the 
average  breeder  who  keeps  only  a  single  breed  or  variety  is  not 
as  much  interested  in  the  description  of  the  many  other  breeds 
found  in  this  Standard.  In  practical  application,  he  wants  and 
greatly  needs  more  than  this — that  is,  reliable,  practical  instruc- 
tion in  how  to  mate  and  care  for  fowls  of  the  particular  breeds 
in  which  he  is  interested,  in  order  that  he  may  be  able  to  produce 
as  large  a  proportion  as  possible  of  specimens  that  shall  approach 
closely  to  the  ideals  described  and  presented  in  the  Standard  of 
Perfection. 

The  present  volume,  as  the  first  of  the  Separate  Breed  Stand- 
ards represents  a  conscientious  effort  on  the  part  of  the  commit- 
tee to  render  this  service  to  the  breeders  of  Plymouth  Rocks. 
This  book  contains  everything  that  appears  in  the  Standard  of 
Perfection  that  relates  directly  to  Plymouth  Rocks.  In  addition 
it  gives  full  detailed  information  on  the  breeding,  exhibiting, 
rearing  and  marketing  of  such  fowls. 

Obviously,  it  is  impossible  for  this  committee  to  formulate 
definite  rules,  the  application  of  which  may  be  expected  to  bring 


PLY3I0VTH  ROCK  ST.WDARD  A.VD  BREED  HOOK  !• 

about  the  production  of  the  highest  exhibition  qualities  in  Plym- 
outh Rocks  in  every  instance.  The  time  may  probabS'  never 
come  when  hard  and  fast  rules  for  all  phases  of  breeding-  prob- 
lems can  be  well  laid  down,  but  there  is  a  vast  difference  between 
an  attempt  to  achieve  this  seemingly  impossible  accomplishment 
and  the  policy  of  complete  silence  on  the  many  problems  that 
confront  the  breeder,  especially  the  beginner,  who,  heretofore, 
has  had  no  authentic  source  of  information  on  the  practical 
problems  involved  in  the  breeding  of  Standard  fowls. 

And  we  believe  that  most  breeders,  certainly  most  of  those 
who  are  inexperienced,  will  welcome  reliable  information  de- 
signed to  solve  the  many  difficult  problems  associated  with  this 
task ;  will  appreciate  having  in  complete  and  connected  form  a 
plain  statement  of  the  fundamental  principles  involved  in  this 
work,  and  will  welcome  reliable  guidance  in  working  out  the 
details  of  the  special  problems  that  confront  them.     (H.  T,  J.) 

LIST   OF   AUTHORS 

The  Association  is  indebted  to  Messrs.  Homer  T.  Jackson 
for  several  articles  in  Part  I,  M.  L.  Chapman  for  the  article 
on  conditioning  White  Birds,  to  T.  F.  McGrew  for  the  treatises 
'on  White  and  Silver-Penciled  Plymouth  Rocks,  to  H.  A.  Nourse 
for  the  treatise  on  Practical  Poultry  Keeping,  and  to  T.  E. 
Quisenbury  and  W.  R.  Graham  for  articles  on  Utility  Features 
of  Plymouth  Rocks.  Their  initials  are  appended  to  the  articles 
written  by  them.  All  articles  not  so  appended  were  written  by 
the  Editor. 


THE  PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND 
BREED  BOOK 


CONTENTS 


PART  ONE:         Fundamentals  of  the  Plymouth   Rock  Fowl. 
Page  11. 

PART  TWO:         Successive  Stages  of  Development  in  Domestic 
Fowls.    Page  40. 

PART  THREE:  Standard-Bred   Plymouth   Rocks.     Page   61. 


PART  FOUR:      Plymouth  Rocks  For  and  In  the  Show  Room. 
Page  337. 


PART  FIVE:        Practical  Poultry  Keeping.     Page  387. 


PART  SIX:  Utility  Features  of  the  Plymouth  Rock  Fowl, 

Page  414. 


10 


PART  ONE 

FUNDAMENTALS  OF  THE  PLYMOUTH  ROCK  FOWL 

SECTION  I 
Nomenclature  and  Glossary  of  Technical  Terms.     Page  12, 
CHAPTER      I.     Glossary  of  Technical  Terms. 

SECTION  II 

The  Score  Card  and  Instructions  for  Judging.    Page  26, 

CHAPTER      I.     Instructions  for  Judging  Plymouth  Rocks. 

CHAPTER     II.     General  Disqualifications  for  Plymouth  Rocks. 

CHAPTER  III.     Rules  for  Cutting  for  Defects  of  Plymouth 
Rocks. 

SECTION  III 

An  Explanation  of  Standard  Measurements  and  Color  Terms. 
Page  34. 

CHAPTER      I.     Standard  Measurements. 

CHAPTER    IL     Color  Terms. 


11 


Figure  1 
NOMENCLATURE 

Oiasiam   of   Male 


1  Head 

2  Beak 

■i     Nostril 


Comb 

Face 

Eye 

Wattle 

Ear 

Ear-lobe 

Hackle 


StiouUler 
Wiiig-bow 
Wing-front 

Wing-coverts,  mng-bai 
Secondaries,  wing-bay 
I'riinarips.  flights 


12 


Primarj-cnverls 
Back 
Saddle 

Saddle  feathers 
Sickles 

Smaller  sickles 
Tail-coverts 

IT     Main  Tail  feather: 
Tnder    Tail -coverts 


2S     Body  Feather 
■29     Fluft- 
.id     Thighs 
31-31     Hock- 
32-32     Shanks 
33-33     Spurs 
34-34     Fei  i 
35-35-35     T(.cs 
3fi-3fi     Toe    Nails 


Figuie   2 

NOMENCLATURE 

Diagram  of  Female 

1 

Head 

J.: 

Caim 

2li     Tail-coverts 

'I 

Beak 

11 

shouUle; 

27     Main  Tail   Feathers 

•i 

Nostril 

\:^ 

Wiiig-bow 

27A     Under  Tail  coveris 

4 

Comb 

ii; 

Wiiig-frmit 

28     Body  Feathers 

5 

Pace 

17 

Wing-coverts 

29     FUilT 

e 

Eve 

IS 

Secondaries,   wing-bay 

30     Thigh 

7 

Wattlo 

19 

Primaries,    flights 

31     Hock 

S 

Ear 

20 

Primary-coveits 

32     Shank 

9 

Ear-lobe 

Back 

33     Spur 

10 

Neck 

22 

Sweep  of  Back 

34     Foot 

U 

Front  of  Neck 

23 

Cushion 

35-35     Toes 

" 

IJroast 

24 
25 

Tail-coveits 
Tail-cnverts 
13 

.■!n-3fi     Tne  Nails 

SECTION     I. 


CHAPTER   I. 


GLOSSARY  OF  TECHNICAL  TERMS 

Barring. — Bars  or  stripes  extending  across  a  feather  at  right 
angles  to  its  length,  or  nearly  so.    (See  figures  3  and  4.) 

Bay. — A  rich  brown-red ;  red  with  a  brown  tinge,  similar  to 
reddish  chestnut.  (Bay  shows  more  red  than  mahogany. 
See  mahogany.) 

Beak. — The  projecting  mouth  parts  of  chickens 
and  turkeys,  consisting  of  upper  and  lower 
mandibles.     (See  figures  1  and  2.) 
Black. — Absence  of  spectral  color.     The  oppo- 
site or  negative  of  white. 
Blade. — The  rear  part  of  a   single   comb,  back 
of  the  last  well-defined  point,  usually  extend- 
ing beyond  the  crown  of  the  head,  smooth 
and  free  from  serrations.     (See  figure  5.) 
Bluish. — Pure   blue   does   not  /♦v 

appear  in  the  feathers  of  ^J*"""' 

fowls.     The  color  termed 
blue  or  bluish  by  poultry- 
men     is     produced     by     a 
mixture     of     black     and 
white    with    the    addition 
of   a   small   percentage  of 
red  pigment. 
Brassiness. — Having  the  color  of  l)rass  ;  yel- 
lowish.   A  serious  defect  in  all  varieties  of 
Plymouth  Rocks. 
Breast. — As    a])plied    to    fowls,    this    term    is 
generally   understood    to    mean    that    part 
which  surrounds  the  fore  part  of  th(,'  keel 
bone.    (See  figures  1  and  2.) 
Breed. — A    race    of    fowls,    the    members    of 
which   maintain   distinctive  shape   charac- 
teristics   that    they    possess    in    common. 
Breed    is    a    broader    term    than    variety. 
Breed  includes  varieties,  as,  for  example, 
the  Barred,  White  and   Buff  varieties  of 
the  Plymouth  Rock  breed. 
14 


]''iguro  ... 
Barred  Feat  hi' r 
Ideal.   (Female.) 


Figure  4. 

Barred  Feather. 

Ideal.   (Male.) 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  ST.WDARD  AXD  BRBEU  BOOK 


Breeder.— A   broad,   general    term   that   designates   the   pouUry 

raiser  who  produces  fowls  for  any  special  purpose,  with  the 

object   of  improving  their  value,  or  in  conformity  with   an 

agreed  standard  of  excellence. 
Breeding  In-and-in.— (See  "inbreeding.") 
Brown.  —  A    color    formed    by 

mingling     red,     yellow     and 

black. 
Buff. — Standard    bufif    color    is 

a    lustrous,    orange    yellow ; 

sometimes     described     as     a 

soft,  brownish  yellow. 
Cape. — The    short    feathers    on 

the     back     underneath     the 

hackle,     collectively     shaped 

like  a  cape.     (See  figures    1 

and  2.) 
Carriage. — The  attitude,  bearing 

or  style  of  a  bird. 
Chick. — -The  young   of   the   do-/ 

mestic     fowl,     properly     ap- 
plied    until     the     sex     can 

be  distinguished ;   sometimes 

used  to  designate  specimens 

less  than  a  year  old. 
Chicken. — Specifically,  the  young  of  the  domestic  fowl  prior  to 

the  development  of  adult  plumage ;  also  used  as   a  general 

term  to  designate  all  domestic  fowls  except  turkeys,  ducks 

and  geese. 
Class. — A   group   of    fowls   consisting   of   one   or   more   breeds 

having  a  common  place  of  origin  or  possessing  certain  special 

characteristics  in  common. 
Cock. — A  male  fowl  one  year  old  and  over. 
Cockerel. — A  male  fowl  less  than  one  year  old. 
Comb. — The   fleshy  protuberance  growing  on  top   of   a   fowl's 

head.     All  varieties  of  Plymouth  Rocks  have  single  combs. 

(See  figure  5.) 
Condition. — The  state  of  a  fowl  in  regard  to  health,  cleanliness 

and  order  of  plumage. 
Coverts. — (See   tail,   flight    and   wing-coverts.)     (See    figures    1 

and  2.) 

Creaminess. — Having  the  color  of  cream;  light  yellow. 


Figure  5. 
Ideal    Comb   for   Plym- 
outh     Rock      Male — Any 
and   All  Varieties. 


AMERICAS    POT  LTRY  AssOcI A'I'lOX 


C^4 


Figure    6. 
Duck    Foot    (A    Defect). 


Crop. — The  enlargement  of  the  gullet  in  which  a  fowl's  food  is 

accumulated  before  it  passes  to  the  gizzard. 
Cushion. — The  mass  of  feathers  at  the  rear  of  back  of  a  fowl. 

partly  covering  the  tail.    (See  figure  2.) 
Disqualification. — A  deformity  or  serious  defect  that  renders  a 

fowl  unworthy  to  win  a  prize. 
Disqualified. — Applied    to    a    fowl    that    is    un- 
worthy to  win  a  prize. 
Domestic    Fowl. — An    individual    of    the    genus 

gallus  domesticus. 
Down. — The    first    hairy    covering    of    chicks ; 
also,    the    tufts    of    hair-like    growth    that 
sometimes  are  found  on  the 
shanks,  toes,  feet  or  webs  of 
feet  of  fowls. 

(NOTE.— If    the    quill   and 
web    are    discernible    to    the 
eye,  it  is  a  "feather.") 
Duck-Footed.  —  The     hind     toe 
carried  forward.    (See  figure 
6.) 
Ear-Lobe. —  1  he  fold  of  bare  skin  just  below  the  ear.    (See  fig- 
ures 1  and  2.) 

Edging. — A  narrow  border  of  white  or  light  color 
along  the  side  or  around  the  end  of  a  darker 
colored  feather. 
Excrescence. — A  disfiguring.  al)normal  or  super- 
fluous outgrowth. 
Face. — The  bare  skin  on  the  head  of  a  fowl 
around  and  below  the  eyes.  (See  figures  1,  2 
and  5.) 
';^^-  Faking. — Removing,  or  attempting  to  remove, 
foreign  color  from  the  face  or  ear-lobes  when 
it  is  a  disqualification ;  removing  one  or  more 
side  sprigs ;  trimming  a  comb  in  any  manner ; 
artificial  coloring  or  bleaching  of  any  feather 
or  feathers ;  splicing  feathers ;  injuring  the 
plumage  of  any  fowl  entered  by  another  ex- 
hibitor; plugging  up  holes  in  legs  of  smooth- 
legged  varieties  where  feathers  or  stubs  dis- 
qualify ;  staining  of  legs ;  in  fact,  any  self- 
evident  attempt  on  the  part  of  an  exhibitor  to 
deceive  the  judge  and  thus  obtain  an  unfair 
advantage   in   competition. 


CfiO 


Figure  7. 
Sections  of 
a  Fea'her. 


PLYMOl'TH  ROCK  ST  AX  D  ARE)  A.\D  BREED  BOOK 


17 


Fancier. — A  breeder  of  poultry  who  seeks  to  produce  chickens, 
turkeys,  ducks  or  geese  in  conformity  wit^h  at.  ideal  or  pre- 
scribed standard  of  excellence. 

Feather. — A   growth    formed   of   a   discernible 
quill   or  shaft  and   a  vane    (called  "web") 


and 


Figure  9. 
Striped    Xeck    Hac- 
kle    Feather,     Male 
(Ideal). 


upon  each  side  of   it.     (See  figures  7 

11.)    (NOTE. — When  qviill  is  not  discerni- 
ble to  the  eye,  it  is  down.) 

Flights. — The  primary  feathers  of  the  wing, 
used  in  flying  but  out  of  sight,  or  nearly 
so,  when  wing  is  folded.  (See  figures  1 
and  2.) 

Flight  Coverts. — The  short,  moderately  stiff 
feathers,  located  at  the  base  of  the  wing 
primaries  or  flight  feathers,  and  partly 
covering  their  quills.     (See  figures  1  and  2.) 

Fluff. — The    soft    feathers    about    thighs    and 
posterior  part  of  fowl ;  also  the  soft  downy 
part  of  a  feather.    (See  figures   1   and  2.) 
Foreign    Color. — Any   color   on    a    feather 
that   dift'ers   from  the   color   prescribe! 
for  such  feather  as  a  part  of  the  plum- 
age of  a  Standard-bred  io\ 
Fowl. — A  term  gener- 
ally used  to  denote 
the     common,     do- 
mestic cock  or  hen. 
Frosting. — .\  white  or 
light    colored    mar- 
ginal     edging      or 
>  tracing  on  feathers 

of  laced  or  penciled 
varieties. 

(This  type  of  lacing 
( see  figure  8)  in  the 
1  reast  of  a  male,  red 
in  the  case  of  the  Part- 
ridge Plymouth  Rock 
(,r  silver  white  in  the 
Si'ver-Penciled  Plym- 
outh    Rock,    may    de- 


1 

Figure   10. 
Striped    Neck 
I'"eather,      Female 
(Ideal). 


IS  ii//;A'/ri\  j'(n  T/ruY  AssoaiAT/oy 

IK  lie  lli;u  the  specimen  belonj^s  to  ;i  line  bred  for  production 
of  exhibition  females.) 

Gray. — A  color  formed  by  blending-  white  and  black,  frequently 
with  a  dash  of  red  or  other  primary  colors.  In  common 
usage,  black  modified  by  white  to  form  a  dull  whitish  tint. 


fA 


d-' 


c  '  c 


^t'' 


D/^ 


c  re 


Figure 


DIVISIONS  OF  A   FFATHER 

A,  Quill  or  .shaft  at  the  root  of  feather.  (See  technical  terms.) 

B,  Tip  or  point.      (Extreme  outer  end.) 

C,  C.      Fluff  and  undercolor.      (See   technical   term.s.) 

D,  D.     y\'eb  and  surface  color.      (See  technical  term.s.) 

E,  E.     Fringe    (or   border). 

The  fringe  is  that  portion  of  a  feather  at  'he  extremities  of  the  web 
and  tip  where  the  fibers  are  not  joined  by  barbules.  In  self  or  solid  colors, 
this  border  or  ed&'e  is  more  glossy  than  the  web.  In  parti-colors  the  color 
changes  usually  at  the  junction  of  the  central  web  and  the  border  as  in 
hackle  of  a  Columbian  Plymouth    RucU. 


I'l  y MOUTH  IWVK  8TA^WAIW  A^^D  BREED  HOOK 


10 


Figure    12. 
Mealy  (Defec- 
tive)  Feather 


Hackle. — The   neck   plumage   of  males,    formed    of   the   hackle 
feathers.    (See  figures  1  and  9.) 

Hackle    Feathers. — The    long,    narrow    feathers 
growing  on  the  necks  of  the  males.    (See  fig- 
ures 1  and  9.) 
Hangers. — A    term    sometimes     applied    to    the 
smaller  sickles  and  tail-coverts  of  males.    (See 
figure  1.) 
Head. — The  part  of  a  fowl  composed  of  skull  and 
face,  to   which   the   comb,   beak,   wattles    and 
ear-lobes  are  attached.    (See  figure  1.) 
Hen-Feathered. — A  male   bird   that   resembles   a 
hen,  owing  to  the  absence  of  sickles,  pointed 
hackle    feathers,    etc.,    is    said   to    be    "hen- 
feathered." 
Hock. — (See  "knee-joint";  also,  figure  1.) 
Horn-Color. — Dark,  bluish  gray  under  an  enam- 
eled surface. 
Inbreeding. — The  breeding  of   very  closely  related   individuals, 
as   sire   and   offspring,   dam   and   offspring,   or  brother   and 
sister.      The   closest    form   of   line   breeding 

Iridescent. — Exhibiting   colors    like   those   of   a 

rainbow ;  a  prismatic  play  of  color. 
Keel. — The  medium  ridge  on  the  breastbone  of 

fowls. 
Knee-joint. — In    fowls,    the    joint    between    the 
thigh  and  shank  is  called  the  knee-joint.    (See 
figures  1  and  2.) 
Knock-Kneed. — A  deformity  in  which  the  legs 
come   too   near  together   at   the   knee-joints, 
and   are  bent  outward,   laterally,   below   the 
knees.    (See  plates  15  and  16,  figures  1  and  1. 
pages  131  and  132.) 
Leg. — Includes  thigh  and  shank.    (See  figures  1 

and  2.) 
Line-Breeding.  —  Breeding    from    a    male    and 

female  of  the  same  strain  or  line  of  descent. 

Lopped-Comb. — A    comb    falling    over    to    one 

side.  To  disqualify  for  a  lopped  single  comb 

(See  "General  Disqualifications),  some  por- 

I'all  below  the  horizontal  plane  where  the  comb 


Figure   13. 
Alossy    (Defec- 
tive)   Feather. 


tion  must 


]>egins  to  lop.    (Sec  plate  7,  figure  1,  page  117.) 


20 


AML'h'/cw  j'oi  i.rin  AssociATiny 


Luster. — The  special  brightness  oi  i)huiiai>e  ihal  gives  brilliancy 
to  the  surface  color  of  the  fowl  or  section. 

Mahogany. — A  brownish-red.    (See  Bay.) 

Mealy. — Having  the  appearance  of  being  sprinkled  with  meal. 
Applied  to  buff  or  red  varieties  where  the  ground  color  is 
stippled  with  a  lighter  color.    (See  "Stipple."  also  figure  12.) 

Mossy. — Irregular,  dark  penciling  appearing  in  feathers  and 
destroying  the  desirable  contrast  of  color.     (See  figure   13.) 

Mottled. — Marked  on  the  surface  with  spots  of 
different  colors  or  shades  of  color. 

Nostrils. — Opening  beginning  at  base  of  beak  and 
extending  into  the  head. 

Obtuse  Angle. — An  angle  greater  than  a  right 
angle,  i.  e..  one  containing  more  than  ninety 
degrees.    (See  figure  25.) 

Parti-Colored. — A  term  applied  to  feathers  or 
fowls  having  two  or  more  colors. 

Pen. — (Exhibition):  A  male  and  four  females  of 
the  same  variety. 

Penciling. — Small  markings  or  stripes  on  a 
feather.  They  may  run  straight  across,  as  in 
the  Penciled  Hamburgs.  in  which  case  they 
frequently  are  called  "bars,"  or  may  follow 
the  outline  of  the  feather,  taking  a  crescentic 
form,  as  in  Silver  Penciled  and  Partridge  Plymouth  Rocks. 
( See  figure  14.) 

Peppered — Peppering. — Sprinkled  with  gray  or  black.  (See 
"Mealy.") 

Pinion  Feathers. — The  feathers  attached  to  the  joint  of  the  wing- 
that  is  most  remote  from  the  body. 

Plumage. — The  feathers  of  a  fowl. 

Poultry. — Domesticated  fowls  reared  for  exhil)ition,  or  for  their 
eggs,  flesh,  or  feathers.  Poultry  includes  chickens,  turkeys, 
geese  and  ducks. 

Primaries. — (See  "Flights.") 

Profile. — A  direct  side  views  of  a  fowl.  Applied  to  live  speci- 
mens and  to  illustrations. 

Pullet. — A  female  fowl  less  than  a  year  old. 

Pure-Bred. — Technically,  a  fowl  whose  breeding  is  "pure"  with 
respect  to  certain  characters.  In  general  use.  the  term  often 
is  inaccurate) V  used  when  ".^^tandard-lircd"  is  meant. 


Figure    14. 

Penciling 

Cre.scentic 

Form  ( Ideal ) 


I'LYMOI'TTf  HOCK  ST.WItAlil)    l.VD  TiEEED  HOOK 


Purple. — A  color  produced  by  a   combination  of  red  and  blue  ; 
includes  all   shades  i)roduced   b}-   tbis   combination,   such   as 
lilac,  violet,  etc. 
Quill. — The   hollow,    horny,    basal    part    or    stem    of    a    feather. 

(See  "Shaft";  also,  figure  7.) 
Red. — The  spectral  color  opposite  to  blue.    Red  covers  a  wide 

range  of  hues  and  shades. 
Rump. — -The  rear  part  of  the  l)ack  of  a  fowl. 

Saddle. — The  rear  part  of  the  back  of  a  male  bird,  extending-  to 
the  tail  and  covered  by  the  saddle  feathers.    (See  figure  1.) 
Saddle    Hackle. — The    long,   narrow,   pointed 
feathers  growing  from  a  male  bird's  sad- 
dle and  drooping  at  the  sides.      (See  fig- 
ure 1.) 
Scaly    Leg. — ( )ne    with    incrustations    or    de- 

])osits  upon  and  beneath  the  scales. 
Secondaries.-  -'bhe    long    quill    feathers    that 
grow  on  the  second  joint  or  fore-arm  of  a 
fowl's    wing,    visible    when    the    wing    is 
folded.     With  the  primaries,  they  consti- 
tute the  main  feathers  of  the  wing.    ( See 
figures  1  and  2.) 
Section. — .V    distinct    ])art    or    portion     of     a 
fowl's   body  ;   especially   one   of  the   parts 
or  portions   considered   in  judging   fowls. 
Self-Color  —  Solid-Color. —  A  uniform  color 
unmixed  with  any  other. 
Serrated. — Notched  along  the  edge  like  a  saw. 
Serration.     A  A'-shaped   notch  between    the   points   of   a   single 

comb. 
Shaft. — The  stem  of  a  feather,  especially  the  part  filled  with  pith, 
which  bares  the  barbs.     (See  figure  7.)     l*roi)erly   the   part 
to  which  the  vane  is  attached,  but  some- 
times applied  to  the  entire  stem,  including 
quill. 
Shafting. — The    shaft   of   the    plume   portion 
of  a   feather,   being   lighter   or   darker   in 
color  than  the  web   of  the  feather.     ( .See 
figures  7  and  15.) 
Shank. — The  lower  scaly  ])Grtion  of  a  fowl's  Figure  le. 

leg,  exclusive  of  the  feet  and  toes.     (See    ^,  One  Fomi  of  side 

r  1  ^   --i  .  .Sprig-s    (A  Disquali- 

figures  1  and  2.)  Hcation). 


One     Form 
Shafting       (A 
feet). 


22 


AMERIO.W   I'OI  L'l'h'Y  ASSOCIATION 


Figure   17. 

Slipped    Wing-    and    Twisted 

Feather    (Defects). 


Sickles. — The  lon^.  curved  feathers 

of  the  male  bird's  tail,  properly 

mm  ^^!M\  applied  to  the  top  pair  only,  but 

Wvi--'i.      /  ■^^■'^^^W;  sometimes   used   in   referring  to 

>  ;  ,  ('     /  .-/,-•  y//-  AM  ^^^  prominent  tail-coverts,  which 

are   also    called    smaller    sickles. 
(See  figure  1.) 
Side  Sprig. — A  well-defined,  pointed 
growth  on  the  side  of  a  single 
comb.    (See  figure  16  ;  also,  plate 
7,  figure  5,  page  117.) 
Single  Comb. — A  comb  consisting  of  a  single,  thin,  fleshy,  ser- 
rated formation,  rising  from  the  beak  and  ex- 
tending backward  over  the  crown  of  the  head 
and  in  males,  beyond  the  head.    (See  figure  5.) 

Slate. — Gray,  of  medium  or  dark  shades. 

Slipped  Wing. — A  wing  of  a  fowl  not  closely  folded 
and  held  up  in  proper  position ;  a  defect  result- 
ing from  injury  or  from  weakness  of  muscles 
of  wing.    (See  figure  17.) 

Smaller  Sickles. — See  "Sickles." 

Splashed  Feather. — A  feather  with  colors  scattered 

and  irregularly  intermixed.    (See  figure  18.) 
Split  Comb. — A  single  comb  which  is  divided  per- 
pendicularly and  the  two  parts  overlap.     (See 
figure  19.) 

Spur. — A  horn-like  protuberance  growing  from  the  inner  side 
of  the  shank  of  a  fowl.  It  may  be  knob- 
like or  pointed,  according  to  the  age  and 
the  sex  of  the  fowl.    (See  figure  1.) 

Squirrel  Tail. — A  fowl's  tail,  any  portion  of 
which  projects  forward,  beyond  a  per- 
pendicular line  drawn  through  the  junc- 
ture of  tail  and  back.    (See  figure  20.) 

Standard-Bred. — Fowls  bred  to  conform  to 

the      requirements      of      the      American 

Standard  of  Perfection. 
I  igure  19. 

Split  Comb.   Show-    Stern. — The  lower  or  under  part  of  the  pos- 
ing  the   Tendency   of  ,      .  .  j.        .       ,     ' 
the   Blade  to  Divide          terior  section  of  a  fowl. 

quaiilfcat'olf)''''  ^°"'    Stipple.— Verb,  to  execute  on  stipple,   i.  e., 


Figure   18. 
Splashed  (De- 
fective) 
Feather. 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  S'J'AyOARD  AND  BREED  ROOK 


28 


Figure  20. 
Squirrel    Tail.      (A   Dis- 
qualification in  Plym- 
outh  Rocks). 


to  draw,  paint  or  engrave 
by  means  of  dots  instead 
of  lines.  Noun,  the  ef- 
fect obtained  in  color 
work  by  the  use  of  dots 
instead  of  strokes  or 
lines.    (See  figure  21.) 

Strain. — A  family  of  any  va- 
riety of  fowls  bred  in  line 
by  descent  by  one  breeder, 
or  successor,  during  a 
number  of  years,  that  has 
acquired  individual  char- 
acteristics which  distin- 
guish it  more  or  less  from 
s  p  e  c  i  m  ens  of  other 
strains  of  the  same  variety. 

Stripe. — A  line  or  band  of  color,  regular  or  irregular  in  form, 
that  differs  from  the  bodv  color  of  feather.  (See  figures  9 
and  10.) 

Striped  Feather. — A  feather,  the  surface  of  which  contains  a 
line  or  lines  of  color,  regular  or  irregular  in  form,  dififering 
from  the  body  color.  When  more  than  one  stripe  is  present 
the  feather  is  said  to  be  laced,  or  barred,  or  penciled. 

Stub. — A  short  feather  or  portion  of  a  feather,  when  found  be- 
tween or  under  scales  of  shanks  or  toes. 

Surface  Color. — The  color  of  that  portion  of  the 
plumage  of  a  fowl  that  is  visible  when  the 
feathers  are  in  their  natural  position. 

Symmetry. — Perfection  of  proportion;  the  har- 
mony of  all  parts  or  sections  of  a  fowl,  viewed 
as  a  whole,  with  regard  to  the  Standard  type 
of  breed  it  represents. 

Tail-Coverts. — The  curved  feathers  in  front  of  and 
at  the  sides  of  the  tail.     (See  figure  1.) 

Tail  Feathers. — Main ;  the  straight  and  stiff  feath- 
ers of  the  tail  that  are  contained  inside  the 
sickles  and  tail-coverts ;  the  top  pair  are  some- 
times slightly  curved,  but  generally  are  straight. 
(See  figures  1  and  2.) 
Thigh. — That  part  of  the  leg  above  the  shank.  (See 
(Ideal).  figures  1  and  2.) 


nOPERTY  ilBRARy 

24  A^EmcM^vmkT^SOCIATIO^ 

Thumb-Mark. — A  disfiguring  depression  which  sometimes  ap- 
pears in  the  sides  of  a  single  comb.  (See  plate  7,  figure  3, 
page  117.) 

Ticking. — Small  specks  of  color  on  feathers,  tliat  differ  from 
the  ground  or  body  color. 

Tipped. — A  term  applied  to  a  feather,  the  web  end  of  which 
differs  in  color  from  the  color  of  the  body  or  main  portion  of 
the  feather. 

Trio. — One  male  and  two  females  of  the  same  variety. 

Twisted  Comb. — An  irregularly  shaped  comb  falling  or  curving 
from  side  to  side,  being  distorted  from  the  normal  perpen- 
dicular position.    (See  plate  7,  figure  2,  page  117.) 

Twisted  Feather. — Feather  with  quill  or  shaft  twisted.  (See  fig- 
ure 17.) 

Typical. — Expressing  a  characteristic  in  color  or  form,  repre- 
sentative of  a  breed  or  variety ;  for  example,  typical  shape, 
meaning  the  form  peculiar  to  a  breed. 

Undercolor. — The  color  of  the  downy  portion  of  the  plumage, 
not  visible  when  the  plumage  of  the  fowl  is  in  natural  posi- 
tion.   (See  figures  7  and  11.) 

Variety. — A  sub-division  of  a  breed  (See  definition  of  "breed") 
used  to  distinguish  fowls  having  the  Standard  shape  of  the 
breed  to  which  they  belong,  but  differing  in  color  of  plumage, 
shape  of  comb,  etc.,  from  other  groups  of  the  same  breed. 
The  general  difference  between  the  terms  "breed"  and  "vari- 
ety" is  well  brought  out  in  the  statement  popular  among 
breeders  and  fanciers :  "Shape  makes  the  breed ;  color,  the 
variety." 

Wattles. — The  pendant  growth  at  the  sides  and  base  of  beak. 

Web. — Web  of  Feather :  The  flat  portion  of  a  feather,  made 
up  of  a  series  of  barbs  on  either  side  of  the  shaft.  (See  fig- 
ure 7.)  Web  of  Feet :  The  flat  skin  between  the  toes.  Web 
of  Wings :  The  triangular  skin  between  the  shoulder  and 
forearm  of  wing. 

White. — A  composition  of  all  colors ;  the  opposite  of  black. 
Enamel  White :  White  with  glossy  surface.  Silvery  White  : 
A  metallic,  lustrous  white,  without  trace  of  yellow. 

Wing-Bar. — The  stripe  or  bar  of  color  extending  across  the 
middle  of  the  wing,  formed  by  the  color  or  markings  of  the 
wing-coverts.    (See  figure  1.) 


I'LYMOl'TH  ROCK  >STAM>ARD  .1A7>  BREED  BOOK  2r> 

Wing-Bay. — The  triangular  section  of  the  wing,  below  the 
wing-bar,  formed  by  the  exposed  portion  of  the  secondaries 
when  the  wing  is  folded.  (See  figures  1  and  2.) 
Wing-Bow. — The  upper  or  shoulder  part  of  the  wing.  (See  fig- 
ures 1  and  2.) 
Wing-Coverts. — The  small,  close  feathers  clothing  the  bend  of 
the  wing  and  covering  the  roots  of  the  secondary  feathers. 
(See  figures  1  and  2.) 

Wing-Front. — The  front  edge  of  the  wing 

at    the   shoulder.      This    section    of    the 

wing  is   sometimes   called   "wing-butt." 

The  term   wing-front   is   recommended, 

thus   avoiding  confusion.     (See  figures 

1  and  2. ) 

Wing-Point. — The   ends   of   the   primaries. 

sometimes    erroneously    called    "wing- 

l)utts.'"    (See  figures  1  and  2.) 

Wry  Tail. — Tail  of  a  fowl  turned  to  one 

side,  permanently  so.    (See  figure  22.) 

Yellow. — The  spectral  color  between  green 

and  orange,  similar  to  gold ;  as  applied 

Figure  22.  to  fowls'  Icgs,  beaks,  etc.  a  rich,  lemon- 

Showing     Wry  -  Tail. 
(A    Disqualification). 


Figure   23. 
Rear   View.  Side  View. 

After  Removing  Feathers.  Before    Removing    Feathers. 

Rear  View  after  Main-Tail  Feathers  and  Large  Sickle.s  Have  Been 
Removed,  Leaving  Smaller  Sickles  and  Tail-Coverts.  (An  Example  of  Fak- 
ing for  the  Purpose  of  Improving  Shape  or  to  Destroy  Evidence.s  of  De- 
fective Color.) 


SECTION     II. 
CHAPTER  I. 

INSTRUCTIONS    FOR    JUDGING     PLYMOUTH    ROCKS 

MERIT. — The  merit  of  specimens  shall  be  determined  by 
a  careful  examination  of  all  sections  in  the  "Scale  of 
i'oints,"  beginning  with  symmetry  and  continuing 
through  the  list,  deducting  from  the  full  value  of  each  section 
of  a  perfect  specimen,  for  such  defects  as  are  found  in  the  speci- 
men. Judges  must  familiarize  themselves  with  the  scale  of  points 
of  each  breed  they  are  to  pass  upon  to  intelligently  award  prizes. 
And  it  must  be  understood  that  no  more  and  no  less  value  can 
l)e  placed  on  any  section  than  is  provided  for  in  the  "Scale  of 
Points."  And  it  shall  be  further  understood  that  this  system 
must  be  applied  whether  judged  by  score-card  or  comparison. 
The  minimum  cut  for  any  section  shall  be  one-fourth  of  one 
point. 

Weight. — All  specimens  shall  be  judged  according  to  their 
Standard  weights,  provided,  however,  that  the  disqualifying 
weight  for  chicks  shall  not  apply  until  December  first  of  each 
year.  Deduct  two  points  per  pound  for  amount  lacking  from 
Standard  weights,  and  in  that  proportion  for  any  fractional  part 
of  a  pound,  using  one-fourth  pound  as  a  minimum,  the  specimen 
to  have  the  benefit  of  any  fraction  less  than  one-fourth  pound. 

When  adult  specimens  are  equal  in  score  and  are  above  or 
below  Standard  weight,  the  one  nearest  weight  shall  be  awarded 
the  prize,  except  when  one  specimen  is  cut  for  weight,  and  the 
others  are  not,  in  which  case  the  specimen  that  is  Standard 
weight  or  above  shall  be  awarded  the  prize.  In  the  case  of 
chicks  of  immature  specimens  having  an  equal  score,  when  cut 
for  lack  of  weight,  the  one  of  less  weight  shall  be  awarded  the 
prize;  but  when  each  of  such  specimens  is  of  Standard  weight, 
or  over,  the  one  nearest  weight  shall  be  awarded  the  prize. 

(CAUTION. — The  weight  clause  must  not  be  understood 
to  mean  that  a  small  but  over-fat  specimen  is  within  the  spirit 


This  chapter  is  taken  from  the  Standard  of  Perfection,  and  is  quoted 
verbatim,  except  for  changes  mad*^  necessary  by  the  omission  of  such 
instructions  as  in  no  way  apply  to  the  .iudging  of  Plymouth  Eocks. 


I'LYMOJ  TH  ROCK  STA^'n\RD  AXD  BliKEU  HOOK 


of  the  meaning  of  the  Standard ;  the  size  must  be  proportionate 
to  the  weight,  preserving  the  ideal  shape  and  type  of  the  Stand- 
ard specimen.) 

Reweighing, — The  judge  may,  at  his  option,  demand  the 
reweighing  of  the  specimens  in  competition,  in  all  cases  where 
Standard  weights  apply. 

Wing  Division.  —  In  discount- 
ing the  color  of  wings,  the  section 
shall  be  divided  into  three  sepa- 
rate parts,  allowing  two  points 
for  fronts,  wing-bow  and  bar ; 
two  for  primaries  and  primary- 
coverts  ;  two  for  secondaries  and 
no  greater  value  can  be  placed  on 
any  one  of  these  parts.  (See  fig- 
ure 24.) 

Scores  Entitling  Specimens  to 
Prizes. — To  receive  a  first  prize 
the  specimen  must  score  ninety 
points  or  more,  except  cocks  of 
all  parti-colored  varieties,  which 
may  be  awarded  first  prize,  pro- 
vided they  score  eighty-eight 
points  or  more.  For  each  reced- 
ing prize  drop  one  point.  A  pen 
to  win  first  prize  must  score  one 
hundred  and  eighty  points  or 
more,  unless  it  contains  a  cock 
of     a     parti-colored     variety,     in 

which  case  one  hundred  and  seventy-eight  points  or  more  mav 

win  first  prize ;  but  first  prize  shall  not  be  given  on  a  pen  if  the 

male    in    the    pen    scores 

less    than    eighty-eight 

points.      No    prize    shall 

be  awarded  an  exhibition 

pen    if    any    specimen    in 

the  pen  scores  less  than 

eighty-five  points. 

Sweepstake   Prizes. — 

In  competition  for  sweep- 
stake prizes,  when  solid- 
colored    specimens    corn- 


Figure    24. 


Ills'. 


Showing   Divisions   of  W 
Flights    or    Primaries,    2    Sec- 
ondaries,   3    Fronts,    wing- 
bows  and  wing-bar 


Figure   25. 
igram   Showing  Degrees   from 
Horizontal. 


28  AAIEh'K'.W    I'OII/lin    AssoclATIOX 

pete  with  parti-colored  specimens,  white  si)eciniens  shall  be 
handicapped  two  points  each,  black  specimens  one  and  one-half 
points  each,  buff  specimens  one  point  each ;  after  such  reduction, 
the  specimen  having  the  liighest  score,  or  the  specimens  having 
the  highest  average  or  combined  score  shall  be  awarded  the 
prize. 

Old  and  Young  Specimens. — All  other  points  being  equal, 
where  i)ri/.es  are  oft'ercd  on  old  and  young  specimens  competing 
together,  the  former  shall  be  awarded  the  prizes. 

Faking. — Faking  of  any  description  shall  debar  from  compe- 
tition specimens  so  treated.  (See  Glossary  for  what  is  meant  by 
"Faking.") 

Creaminess  or  Brassiness. — In  White  Plymouth  Rocks  the 
presence  of  brassiness  on  surface,  or  creaminess  of  quills  or 
undercolor  is  a  serious  defect  and  is  to  be  discountefl  accord- 
ingly. 

Bleaching  by  means  of  chemicals  is  such  a  harmful  practice 
that  where  it  is  proved  by  other  evidence  than  the  condition  of 
the  specimen,  or  specimens,  such  bleached  specimen  shall  be  con- 
sidered faked  and  disciualilied. 

Score  of  Exhibition  Pen. — To  ascertain  the  score  of  an  ex- 
hi))ition  pen,  add  the  scores  of  the  females  together  and  divide 
the  sum  by  the  number  of  females  in  the  pen ;  to  the  quotient 
thus  obtained,  add  the  score  of  the  male  and  this  sum  shall  be 
the  score  of  the  exhibition  pen. 

Dated  Score  Cards. — All  score  cards  made  out  by  judges 
applying  the  Standard  are  to  be  dated  with  ink,  indelible  pencil 
or  stam})  on  the  date  the  specimens  are  judged. 

Defective  Score  Card. — -It  shall  be  considered  irregular  for 
a  judge  to  sign  a  score  card  unless  the  weight  is  considered, 
regardless  of  the  season. 

Private  Scoring. — Private  scoring  of  specimens  is  not  advis- 
able, and  members  of  this  Association  are  directed  not  to  lend 
their  support  to  the  ])ractice  as  a  selling  method.  Judges  are 
ordered  to  weigh  each  specimen  and  apply  the  proper  cut  and  to 
make  proper  cuts  for  the  condition  of  the  speciiuen  at  the  time 
the  fowl  is  scored. 

Ties. — In  case  of  ties  between  two  or  more  specimens  that 
cannot  be  broken  by  any  of  the  previous  rules,  the  specimen 
receiving  the  smallest  total  sum  of  cuts  for  shape  shaH  be 
awarded  the  prize.  In  case  of  ties  on  exhibition  pens,  when  the 
tying  pens  contain  either  all  old  or  young  specimens,  the  adult 


I'LYMOl  'I'll   Ix'OCh    s'/\\  l>M,'l)    \\l)  JiUi:i:i>  HOOK  2V) 

pen  shall  win ;  when  the  tying  pens  are  both  adult  or  both  young, 
the  pen  containing  the  highest  scoring  male  shall  win ;  when  one 
of  the  tying  pens  contains  females  of  mixed  ages,  the  pen  con- 
taining the  highest  scoring  male  shall  win ;  when  one  of  the  pens 
contains  all  hens  or  all  pullets,  while  the  other  contains  females 
of  mixed  ages,  the  pen  having  all  the  females  either  adult  or 
young  shall  win  ;  when  the  tie  cannot  be  broken  by  any  of  the 
above  rules,  the  pen  containing  the  lowest  total  of  shape  cuts  in 
the  five  main  shai)e  sections  shall  win. 

IN    APPLYING     THE    COMPARISON    SYSTEM 

Typical  Shape. — In  awarding  prizes  by  comparison,  judges 
must  consider  carefully  each  and  every  section  of  the  specimen, 
according  to  the  Scale  of  Points  and  not  allow  color  alone,  or 
any  one  or  two  sections  to  influence  their  decisions.  The  vital 
importance  of  typical  shape  is  to  be  borne  constantly  in  mind, 
at  the  same  time  giving  due  consideration  to  color  in  all  sections, 
including  undercolor. 

Handling. — All  specimens  in  competition  must  be  handled 
and  examined  by  the  judge,  except  those  that  show  decided 
inferiority  as  seen  in  coops. 

Disqualifying  Weights. — Specimens  falling  l)el(nv  disqualif}- 
ing  weights  after  December  first  of  each  year  must  be  debarred 
from  competition. 

Standard  Size. — In  determining  size,  the  judge  shall  decide 
by  comparing  the  specimens  in  competition  with  due  regard  to 
weight  in  all  breeds  and  varieties.  When  a  bird  fails  to  attain, 
or  in  case  it  exceeds,  the  size  proportionate  with  the  type  or 
shape,  it  must  be  discounted  quite  severely. 

Color  Defects. — A  few,  very  small,  grayish  specks  in  white 
fowls  shall  not  debar  a  specimen  that  is  otherwise  superior  in 
color  from  winning  over  one  less  typical  in  shape  and  sound  in 
color;  provided,  however,  that  the  gray  specks  do  not  appear 
prominently   in   the   primary,    secondary   or   main   tail    feathers. 

Scaly  Legs. — A  fowl  whose  legs  and  toes  are  so  deformed  by 
what  is  called  "Scaly  Legs"  as  to  hide  or  to  appear  to  have  de- 
stroyed the  color,  shall  not  be  awarded  a  first  prize. 

Note. — Under  the  comparison  system,  judges  must  deduct 
tlie  full  valuation  of  the  cuts  in  all  sections  where  a  specified  cut 
is  made  under  the  heading  of  "Cutting  for  Defects." 


:;(»  AMERKWX  POI  l.lh'Y  ASSOC/  \TIO\ 

CHAPTER  II. 

GENERAL    DISQUALIFICATIONS    FOR 
PLYMOUTH    ROCKS 

If,  in  applying  the  Standard  of  Perfection,  judges  find  an\ 
of  the  defects  described  below,  they  shall  disqualify  the  specimen 
and  state  on  the  proper  card  or  blank  the  nature  of  the  disquali- 
fication : 

Specimens  unworthy  of  a  score  or  lacking  in  breed  charac 
teristics. 

Any  feather  or  feathers,  stubs  or  down  on  shanks,  feet  or 
toes;  or  unmistakable  indications  of  feathers,  stubs  or  down 
having  been  plucked  from  same. 

Plucked  hocks. 
Web  feet. 

More  or  less  than  four  toes  on  either  foot. 
Legs  or  toes  of  color  foreign  to  the  breed. 
A  wing  showing  clipped  flights  or  secondaries  or  both. 
Deformed  beaks.    (See  figure  5,  plate  7,  page  117.) 
Decidedly  wry  tails. 
Crooked  backs. 
Lopped  combs. 

(A  comb  which  merely  turns  over  a  trifie  from  the  natural, 
upright  position  is  not  to  disqualify. ) 

Combs  foreign  to  the  breed.     Split  combs.    (See  figure  19.) 
Side  sprig  or  sprigs.    (See  figure  16.) 
Entire  absence  of  main  tail  feathers. 
Decidedly  squirrel  tail.    (See  figure  20.) 

Positive  enamel  white  in  ear-lobes  or  unmistakable  evidence 
of  an  attempt  to  remove  such  defect. 

Any  appearance  of  crest  or  beard. 

A  specimen  falling  more  than  two  pounds  below  Standard 
weight. 

Faking  in  any  manner  shall  disqualify  the  specimen. 

Under  all  disqualifying  clauses,  the  specimen  shall  have  the 
l)enefit  of  the  doubt. 

Note. — Red  pigment  on  sides  or  back  of  shanks  is  not  to  be 
considered  a  defect. 


CHAPTER  III. 

CUTTING    FOR    DEFECTS 

These  cuts  should  not  be  confused  with  nor  take  precedence 
over  the  valuation  given  each  section  in  the  Scale  of  Points  of 
all  varieties. 

Judges,  in  applying  the  score  card,  are  to  discount  for  the 
more  common  defects,  as  follows : 

Frosted  combs   /^* 

Too  many  or  too  few  point  on  single  combs,  each         1^2 

Thumb  mark  on  comb,  not  less  than 1 

Rear  of  comb  turning  round ^  to  1 

Coarse  texture  of  comb ^  to  1 

Gray  or  white  in  any  except  disqualifying  sections 

of  plumage  of  Partridge  Plymouth  Rocks ^^f 

Coarse  texture  of  wattles 5^  to  1 

For  missing  feather  or  part  of  feather  in  primaries 

or  secondaries,  where  foreign  color  disqualifies 1       to  3 

Where  feather  is  broken,  but  not  detached,  in  pri- 
maries or  secondaries,  where  foreign  color  dis- 
qualifies        ^ 

For  broken  or  missing  feather  or  feathers  in  pri- 
maries  or   secondaries    of   buff   or   parti-colored 
varieties,  where  foreign  color  does  not  disqualify     !/  to  1 
Absence  of  sickles,  where  foreign  color  disqualifies, 

for  each  sickle 1       to  1^ 

Absence  of  sickles,  where  foreign  color  does  not  dis- 
qualify, for  each  sickle ^ 1 

Absence  of  one  or  more  main  tail  feathers  in  vari- 
eties subject  to  color  disqualifications,  each 1 

Absence  of  one  or  more  main  tail  feathers,  when  not 

a    disqualification,    each ^ 

For  twisted  feather  or  feathers,  in  wing  or  tail  of 

any  variety 1       to  2 

Brassiness   in   all   varieties,    in   each   section    where 

found 1       to  2 

Creaminess  of  plumage  or  quill  in  White  Plymouth 

Rocks,  in  each  section  where  found %  to  \y2 

Purple  barring  in  plumage  of  any  variety,  in  each 

section  where  found  V2  to  2 


I  i//;/.'/r  1  \   I'oi  i.rin    \ss()ri\rio\ 


Irregular    barring    in    liarrcd    IMyniuuth    Rocks,    in 
each   section    wliere    found 

Light  colored  shafting  in  Buff  Plymouth  Rocks,  in 
each  section  where  found 

Gray  specks  in  any  part  of  plumage  of  White  Plym- 
outh Rocks,  in  each  section  where  found 


Mealiness  in  plumage  of  Buff  Plymouth  Rocks,  in 
each   section   where   found 


/2  to 

^  to 

^  to 

1  to 


Irregular  or  deticient  penciling  in  Silver  Penciled 
and  Partridge  Plymouth  Rocks,  in  each  section 
where  found  

Black  or  white  in  Buff'  I'lymouth  Rocks,  in  each  sec- 
tion where  found,  cut  from  one-half  point  to  the 
color  limit  of  sections. 

Slate  undercolor  in  Buff  Plymouth  Rocks,  in  each 
section  where  found 

Color  of  eyes  not  as  described  for  the  different 
varieties    

If  eye  is  destroyed,  leaving  only  the  socket 

If  eye  shows  permanent  injury,  but  retains  its  form 
If  tail  in  any  specimen  shows  not  to  exceed  three- 
fourths  development  

If  tail  in  any  speci- 
men shows  not 
to  exceed  one- 
half  development 

If  tail  in  any  speci- 
men shows  not 
to  exceed  one- 
fourth  develop- 
ment     

Crooked  breast  bone 

Crooked  toes,  each... 

In  Barred  Plym- 
outh Rocks,  for 
black  feathers 
or  feathers,  in 
each  section 
where  found 

*To  shai't'  limit.     tTo  vo 


1/2 

2 

IK2 


A  to  ly^ 


/2     to 

A  to 


VA 


4  to  1 


Figure  26. 
lil    Carried    at    an    Angle    of 
4.5   Degrees. 


2  to 

limit 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STAXDARD  AXD  BREED  BOOK  :« 

(Names  of  Association,  here) 

(Date;   niontli,  days  and  year  show  is  held,  here) 

Official  Score  Card  of  the  American  Poultry  Association 
Exhibitor  


raricfy  Se: 


Entry  No.. 


Band  No Wcizht. 


S\  III  incfrv 

Shape 

CJor 

IVci'^'ht  or  Si'::c 

Comb 

Head 

. 

Beak 

E  yes 

Wattles  and  Ear-Lobes 



Neck 

IV  in  o's 

1 

Back 

1 

7 'ail 



Breast 

Bod\  and  Fluff 

*Crest  and  Beard 

■fShortness  of  Feather 



Total  Cuts Score. 


.  Jnds,e 


,  Secretary 

'Applies  to  Crested  Breeds.     tApplles  to  Games  and  Game   Bantams. 

Score  cards  may  be  obtained  from  the  Secretary  of  the  Amer- 
ican   Ponltrv  Association. 


SECTION     III 


CHAPTER  I. 

STANDARD    MEASUREMENTS 

HE  term  "Standard  Measurements"  refers  to  the  relative 
size  of  the  different  parts  of  a  fowl  and  not  to  any  definite 
mathematical  statement  of  length,  width  or  circumference, 
as  no  such  definite  standards  have  ever  been  established.  'Ihis 
may  l)e  done  some  time,  but  for  the  present  the  breeders'  sole 
guide  in  determining  the  correct  measurement  of  sections  must 
be  the  eye.  trained  to  observe  correct  proportions  Ijetween  the 
different  body  parts.  These  proportions  are  established  by  the 
American  Standard  of  Perfection,  and  the  inexperienced  l)eginner 
and  the  expert  judge  alike  must  form  their  estimate  of  the  degree 
to  which  a  given  section  of  any  individual  fowl  corresponds  to 
the  ideal  by  a  careful  study  of  such  sections  in  comparison  with 
Standard  ideal  illustrations  and  Standard  descriptions  of  that 
breed  and  sex. 

The  person  who  is  accustomed  to  thinking  of  animal  meas- 
urements as  being  determined  by  the  use  of  tape,  ruler  or  calipers 
may  find  it  a  little  difficult  to  accustom  himself  to  regarding  the 
soft,  pliable  surface  of  a  fowl's  plumage  as  forming  the  final  out- 
line of  practically  all  its  parts.  For  the  purpose  of  judging. 
however,  such  outlines  are  as  distinct  and  final  as  solid  flesh, 
assuming,  of  course,  that  the  i)lumage  is  in  its  natural  orderly 
arrangement. 

It  should  be  clearly  understood  that  the  vise  of  the  terms 
"broad,"  "long."  "moderately  long."  "short,"  etc.,  does  not  in 
any  case  involve  comparison  with  other  breeds  of  fowls.  In  all 
instances,  they  refer  to  comparisons  between  the  different  sec- 
tions of  the  bird  under  consideration,  and  with  the  Standard 
illustration  of  the  ideal  bird  of  the  same  breed  and  sex. 

For  example,  the  head  of  the  Standard  Plymouth  Rock  male 
is  described  as  "moderately  large."  This  does  not  mean  that  it 
is  "moderately  large"  as  compared  with  the  head  of  a  Leghorn, 
on  the  one  hand,  or  a  Brahma  on  the  other,  but  it  means  "mod- 


rLYMOVTH  h'UCK  STA\DAh'l>  A\D  BREED  lUJOK  85 

erately  large"  when  compared  with  other  sections  of  the  same 
bird.  The  Standard  could  have  specified  a  small,  delicate,  finely 
cut  head  for  the  Plymouth  Rock  male,  or  one  that  would  be  dis- 
tinctly large.  What  it  actually  has  done,  however,  is  call  for  a 
head  of  "moderate  size" — moderate  when  compared  with  other 
parts  or  sections  of  the  bird.  The  Standard  goes  farther  and 
exactly  illustrates  the  correct  proportion  in  the  cuts  on  page  110 
and  following  pages,  so  that  the  breeder  may  have  at  hand  an 
exact  "pattern"  for  comparison. 

The  head  of  any  individual  Plymouth  Rock  male,  therefore, 
approximates  correct  size  just  in  proportion  as  it  conforms  to 
the  development  indicated.  .Vnd  the  same  principle  applies  to  all 
otlier  parts  or  sections  of  Standard-bred  fowls. 

Twelve  full  page  illustrations  show  ideal  profiles  of  males 
and  females  of  all  the  different  varieties  of  Plymouth  Rocks  and 
elsewhere  in  the  book  will  be  found  illustrations  showing  the 
proportions  of  such  other  parts  as  cannot  be  exactly  shown  in 
the  profiles.  The  beginner  who  makes  a  careful  study  of  these 
illustrations  will  at  no  time  have  to  go  outside  of  this  book  to 
determine  what  is  meant  by  any  term  relating  to  proportion. 
(H.T.J.) 


CHAPTER  II. 


COLOR   TERMS 

Poultrymen  generally  have  found  it  quite  difficult  to  agree 
upon  exact  shades  of  color  for  different  breeds  and  varieties  of 
fowls  and  more  or  less  confusion  has  always  existed  on  this; 
point.  One  reason  for  this  is  the  great  variety  of  possible  shades 
in  all  colors.  The  Standard  Dictionary,  for  example,  recognizes 
over  one  hundred  and  sixty  kinds  of  "red"  and  over  one  hundred 
kinds  of  "black,"  with  a  similar  range  in  other  colors.  The  situ- 
ation is  further  complicated  l)y  the  fact  that  no  exact  definitions 
of  color  terms  exist  that  enable  one  to  determine  with  any  cer- 
tainty the  precise  shade  of  color  specified  in  any  given  instance. 
Neither  has  it  been  found  practicable  to  produce  a  color  chart 
that  can  be  used  with  any  degree  of  certainty.  It  is  undoubtedly 
true,  in  the  case  of  all  colors,  that  the  true  and  exact  shades  can 
be  learned  onlv  bv  observation. 


•AW  l.l/A.'A'/r.l  \    j'OI  l.'lh')    .\s,\()('l.\'r/()\ 

In  the  Glossary,  on  pages  14  to  2b,  and  in  matter  clesi:rii)tive 
of  the  different  varieties  of  Plymouth  Rocks,  colors  have  been 
defined  as  accurately  as  can  be  done  in  a  few  words,  and  it  is 
hoped  that  the  reader  will,  from  these  descriptions,  be  able  to 
form  a  fairly  accurate  idea  of  the  colors  called  for  in  these  vari- 
eties. In  addition  to  these  brief  definitions,  however,  the  follow- 
ing- explanations  of  color  terms  applied  to  Plymouth  Rocks 
doubtless  will  prove  helpful  to  many. 

Reddish-Bay. — This  color  is  called  for  in  the  eyes  of  all 
Plymouth  Rocks  and,  as  a  rule,  is  a  distinct  red,  but  with  a 
brownish  tinge.  Bay  in  fowls'  eyes  varies  from  light  to  dark, 
but  the  ideal  is  medium  in  shade. 

Black. — Two  distinct  blacks  are  called  for  in  Plymouth 
Rocks.  In  Barred  Rocks,  the  barring  "stops  short  of  positive 
black."     This  black  should  be  without  greenish  sheen. 

In  all  other  varieties  of  Plymouth  Rocks,  black  means  either 
a  greenish-black,  that  is,  a  solid  black  with  a  greenish  sheen,  or 
a  dull,  intense  black. 

Green. — Green  does  not  exist  as  a  positive  color  in  the  feathers 
of  fowls,  but  is  produced  by  the  structure  of  the  feather,  the 
parts  of  which  set  somewhat  like  prisms,  thus  producing  an 
iridescent  effect  which  in  black  feathers  of  a  certain  character 
gives  a  brilliant  green  sheen.  Under  some  conditions  this  sheen 
gives  a  purplish  effect,  which  is  highly  objectional)le  in  Plymouth 
Rocks. 

Brown. — Brown  and  mahogany  should  be  considered  together 
to  get  a  clear  understanding  of  these  closely  related  colors. 
Brown  is  composed  of  red,  yellow  and  black,  giving  a  color 
darker  and  more  somber  than  bay  and,  in  fowls,  shows  little  red. 
Mahogany  also  is  formed  of  red,  yellow  and  black,  but  describes 
a  color  verging  on  chestnut,  though  lighter  in  tone,  i.  e.,  con- 
taining a  little  more  red  and  yellow.  Mahogany  closely  approxi- 
mates the  color  of  chestnuts  when  first  taken  from  the  burr  and 
is  lighter  and  redder  than  the  color  of  chestnuts  as  ordinaril\- 
sold  in  market. 

Bluish. — There  is  no  blue  in  the  feathers  of  fowls.  The  color 
called  blue  is  a  mixture  of  black  and  white,  the  bluish  tinge 
being  a  faint  iridescence.  In  Barred  Plymouth  Rocks  the  ideal 
bluish  tinge  is  produced  mainly  by  the  various  modified  shades 
of  black,  grayish-black  and  grayish-white  resulting  from  the 
modified  white  and  black  of  the  barred  feathers  and  from  their 
overlapping. 


J'LYMOVTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AM)  lih'EED  BOOK  :'.7 

Buff. — A  yellow-toned  brown,  that  is.  a  yellow  darkened  with 
red  and  black.  Different  shades  of  buff  are  found,  ranging 
from  lemon  buff  to  a  distinct  reddish-yellow.  Bearing  in  mind 
that  yellow  is  the  color  of  gold,  the  "rich,  golden  buff"  called 
for  by  the  Standard  must  be  understood  to  be  a  golden  yellow. 

Gray. — This  color,  as  applied  to  Plymouth  Rocks,  is  used 
chiefly  in  connection  with  the  appearance  of  objectionable  dark 
markings  in  feathers  that  should  be  clear  white  or  other  color. 
Gray  is  a  black  reduced  with  white  until  it  is  of  a  dull,  neutral 
shade.  Black  as  a  disqualification  or  defect  must  be  "positive" 
black,  that  is,  unmodified  by  white. 

Purple. — As  applied  to  the  black  feathers  of  fowls  usually 
appears  in  the  form  of  barring,  and  is  commonly  supposed  to 
be  indicative  of  "too  much  luster."  Both  purple  and  green 
apparently  are  produced  by  the  reflection  of  light  from  prismatic 
black  feathers.  The  exact  reason  why  some  feathers  show  green 
shades  and  some  purple  is  not  clearly  understood.  It  is  probable 
that  the  purple  is  due  to  a  reddish  element,  which  tends  to  crop 
out  as  a  result  of  poor  breeding. 

Red. — This  is  supposed  to  be  the  original  color  of  fowls,  and 
in  crosses  or  in  careless  breeding  is  liable  to  appear  at  any  time. 
Fowls  of  all  colors,  apparently,  carry  red  as  a  latent  color  factor. 
Red  in  Barred,  White  or  Columbian  Plymouth  Rocks  is  a  dis- 
qualifying defect. 

White. — Pure  white  is  a  dead  white,  without  any  other  shade, 
though,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  what  passes  for  a  pure  white  has  a 
bluish  tinge,  as  a  rule.  It  is  common  knowledge  that  the 
"whitest"  white  fowls  are  very  apt  to  have  some  feathers  with  a 
light  flecking  of  gray  where  the  black  pigment,  which  gives  the 
bluish  tint,  has  become  too  conspicuous. 

Silvery  white  is  pure  white  with  a  sheen,  as  often  seen  in  the 
hackle  and  saddle  feathers  of  male  Silver  Penciled  Rocks. 

Yellow. — This  is  the  color  of  beaks,  shanks  and  feet  in  most 
varieties  of  Plymouth  Rocks,  which  are  clear,  rich  yellow,  closely 
approaching  lemon-yellow.  Yellow  also  is  an  important  color 
in  the  plumage  of  fowls,  though  it  never  appears  there  as  a  pure 
color — being  modified  in  all  cases  by  reds  and  blacks,  thus  pro- 
ducing buff,  bay  and  brown  shades  of  varving  degrees  of  inten- 
sity.    (H.  T.  J.) 


/Li//v7.'/r  1  \  j'or  f/nn  M^soviATioy 


SCALE  OF  POINTS 
FOR  JUDGING  PLYMOUTH  ROCKS 

All  Standard  Sizes. 

Barred  Plymouth  Rocks 

White  Plymouth  Rocks 

Buff  Plymouth  Rocks 

Silver-Penciled  Plymouth  Rocks 

Partridge  Plymouth  R(icks 

Columbian  Plymoi^th  Rocks 


Symmetry    4 

Weight  4 

Condition  4 

Comb   8 

Head  —  Shape  2,  Color  2  4 

Beak  — Shape  2.   Color  2  4 

Eyes  — -  Shape  2,   Color  2 4 

Wattles  and  Ear-lobes  —  Shape  2,  Color  2 4 

Neck  —  Shape  4,  Color  6 10 

Wing's  —  Shape  4,  Color  6 10 

Back  —  Shape  5.  Color  5 10 

Tail  —  Shape  5,  Color  5 10 

Breast  —  Shape  5,  Color  5 10 

Body  and  Fluff  —  Shape  5,  Color  3 8 

Legs  and  Toes  —  Shape  3,  Color  3 6 

100 


PART  11. 

Successive  Stages  of  Development  in  Domestic  Fowls 


SECTION  I 

Chapter     I — Origin  and  Development  of  Domestic  Fowls. 
Page  40. 


SECTION  II 

Breeding  of  Domestic  Fowls 

Chapter     I — General    Principles   of   Breeding    Domestic    Fowls. 

Page  44. 


Chapter  II — Principles  of  Breeding,  from  a  Poultryman's 
Standpoint.     Page  56. 


39 


SECTION     I. 
CHAPTER  I. 

ORIGIN  AND   DEVELOPMENT   OF   DOMESTIC   FOWLS 

THE  ORIGIN  OF  FOWLS  is  a  subject  in  which  the  orni- 
thologist is  much  more  deeply  interested  than  the  practical 
poultryman.  the  breeder,  or  even  the  ardent  fancier ;  and, 
it  is  a  topic  that  he  alone  is  competent  to  discuss.  The  accounts 
that  we  find  in  the  best  poultry  works  vary  considerably.  Hence, 
we  say  that  it  is  a  subject  upon  which  the  student  of  ornithology, 
alone,  is  qualified  to  pass  judgment. 

The  origin  of  domestic  fowls  is  generally  attributed  to  the 
Gallus  bankiva,  of  ferrugineus,  commonly  called  the  Jungle  Fowl 
of  India,  which  some  claim  are  still  to  be  seen  there.  Specimens 
claimed  to  be  such  were  exhibited  at  the  Madison  Square  Garden 
Show,  New  York,  not  more  than  ten  or  possibly  fifteen  years 
ago.  These  specimens  bore  a  close  resemblance  to  the  illustra- 
tions of  the  Jungle  Fowl  which  we  find  in  poultry  books  pub- 
lished about  the  middle  of  the  nineteenth  century.  On  the  other 
hand,  it  does  not  require  a  great  stretch  of  the  imagination  to 
see  them  as  the  result  of  a  cross  between  a  Black-Red  Game  Ban- 
tam and  a  Brown  Leghorn.  In  fact,  they  looked  like  a  somewhat 
overgrown  specimen  of  the  former,  while  the  plumage  resembled 
that  of  the  latter  when  unscientifically  bred. 

Variation  in  Early  Types. — Some  authorities  maintain  that 
birds  varying  in  type  as  widely  as  do  dififerent  breeds  of  our 
domestic  fowls,  as  for  instance  the  Game  Bantam  and  the 
Brahma,  or  the  Cochin  and  the  Game,  could  not  have  been  pro- 
duced from  one  species,  and  that  our  present  day  domestic  fowls 
must  trace  their  origin  back  to  at  least  two  sources. 

Edward  Brown,  in  "Races  of  Domestic  Poultry,"  points  out 
the  fact  that  naturalists  as  a  rule  for  a  time  accepted  the  Darwin 
theory,  that  all  races  of  our  domestic  fowls  were  descendants  of 
the  Gallus  ferrugineus,  the  Jungle  Fowl  of  India,  while  poultry- 
men  as  a  rule  refute  this  and  accepted  the  theory  first  advanced 
l)y  Lewis  W^right,  that  it   was   improbable  that   several   of  our 


PLYMOUTH  ROVK  i^TANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  41 

breeds,  particularly  those  we  obtained  from  China,  were  descend- 
ants of  the  Gallus  ferrugineus.  If  so,  we  must  go  farther  back 
to  find  the  common  ancestry. 

W.  G.  Tegetmeir,  who,  according  to  Brown,  was  associated 
with  the  great  Darwin  in  his  research  work,  took  the  view  that 
while  a  large  part  of  our  present  day  domestic  fowls  could  trace 
their  ancestry  back  to  the  Gallus  bankiva,  it  was  more  than 
improbable  that  fowls  of  certain  types,  such  as  the  Brahma  and 
Cochin,  could  also.  These,  in  his  opinion,  which  he  cites  appar- 
ently after  years  of  research  and  study,  must  have  descended 
from  a  different  branch  of  the  genus,  either  now  extinct  or  modi- 
fied to  sucli  an  extent  that  it  is  classed  with  some  other  species 
of  the  Gallus  family.  This,  of  course,  means  that  we  must  go 
back  of  the  Gallus  bankiva  to  find  the  common  ancestry. 

Brown,  in  the  excellent  work  mentioned  heretofore,  gives  the 
sum  and  substance  of  our  knowledge  at  the  present  time  in 
the  following  paragraph : 

"To  sum  up,  therefore,  it  may  be  taken  that  with  the  domestic 
fowl,  as  with  many  other  natural  forms  of  life,  we  can  go  so  far 
back,  but  no  further.  The  probability  is  that,  as  in  the  case  of 
dogs,  all  the  varieties  of  fowls  do  not  owe  their  origin  to  any  one 
species,  at  any  rate  of  those  now  extant,  and  that  we  must  look 
to  another  progenitor  than  the  G.  ferrugineus  (bankiva)  for 
several  of  the  later  introduced  races,  more  especially  those  from 
China." 

Incentives  to  Poultry  Keeping. — While  we  have  fanciers  and 
breeders  of  Standard  fowls  among  us  by  the  thousands  that  are 
eingaged  in  this  work  purely  for  the  pleasure  that  they  derive 
from  it,  the  income  therefrom  or,  more  directly,  the  food  supply 
derived  is  the  great  incentive  to  poultry  keeping  with  a  very 
large  majority.  Nevertheless,  all  of  the  available  accounts  of 
ancient  literature  indicate,  and  the  probabilities  are  that  the  love 
of  sport  first  induced  the  natives  of  India,  in  which  country 
fowls  were  first  found,  to  domesticate  wild  fowls ;  and  to  obtain 
specimens  better  endowed  physically  for  cock  fighting,  a  sport 
that  has  been  the  natives'  leading  amusement  until  the  present 
time,  they  bred  fowls  after  their  own  selection. 

Introduced  Into  Europe. — Starting  in  India,  the  keeping  of 
fowls  with  civilization  crept  westward  through  Asia  and  Europe 
into  Italy.  Spain,  France,  Belgium  and  England.  Besides  their 
indebtedness  t9  the  fowls  that  developed  from  this  early  intro- 


42  ll//;A'/r.|\    I'OI  l/lh')    AssiK'lATlOX 

ciuction,  the  luirupean  countries,  England  especially,  owe  much 
to  tlie  importations  during  modern  times.  Many  of  the  fowls 
that  were  obtained  from  China  early  in  the  nineteenth  century 
were  of  widely  different  types  from  those  that  migrated  through 
Western  Asia  and  Eastern  Europe  some  centuries  before. 

First  Authentic  Accounts. — Exact  information  upon  poultry 
topics  is  exceedingly  meager  until  within  the  last  one  hundred 
veafs  or  so.  Almost  nothing  of  the  methods  employed  in  keep- 
ing flocks  or  of  the  description  of  the  breeds  is  found  up  to  the 
early  part  of  the  nineteenth  century,  and  it  is  about  the  middle 
of  this  century  before  anything  satisfactory  is  found  upon  either 
topic.  We  are  obliged,  therefore,  to  draw  most  of  our  con- 
clusions concerning  the  evolution  and  transition  in  both,  partly 
from  the  evidence  supplied  by  the  accumulative  results  of  which 
we  are  the  eye  witnesses,  partly  from  such  literature  of  the  tran- 
sitory periods  as  is  available,  and  somewhat  from  the  information 
given  by  our  veteran  associates. 

Types — Geographical. — The  English  and  French  have  been 
Ijarticularly  zealous  in  developing  si:)lendid  breeds  of  fowls  which 
b.ave  a  leaning  toward  a  line  meat  carcass  rather  than  to  heavy 
egg  production.  The  Spaniards,  Italians,  and  Hollanders  have 
l)aid  more  attention  to  egg-producing  qualities.  The  Asiatic 
races  produced  the  largest  and  most  magnificent  of  all  fowls, 
which  were  also  the  most  pronounced  meat  types. 

Early  American  Importations. — Comparatively  early  in  the 
life  of  the  nation.  Americans  adopted  many  foreign  breeds. 
About  the  middle  of  the  nineteenth  century,  especially  a  little 
later,  the  large  Asiatic  breeds  found  much  favor  with  poultry 
keepers  in  this  country.  Their  influence  upon  breeds  that  orig- 
inated here  is  incalculable.  The  late  Mark  Pitman,  a  former 
resident  of  Salem.  Massachusetts,  once  related  to  the  writer  some 
interesting  facts  about  these  importations.  From  this  account  it 
ajjpeared  that  many  of  them  were  not  undertaken  for  the  purpose 
of  acquiring  new  blood  or  new  breeds  for  the  American  poultry- 
men,  but  for  no  higher  motives  than  to  provide  fresh  meat  from 
time  to  time  for  the  shipmaster's  table.  Those  fowls  that  reached 
America  alive  owed  their  survival  to  their  lean  condition  as, 
unfortunately,  the  best  were  usuallv  the  first  choice,  and  the 
poorest,  because  confined  on  shipboard,  became  eventually  so 
))oor  that  they  were  unfit  for  the  table  and  survived  the  entire 
journey  to  become  the  progenitors  of  new  races  or  strains.  This 
information  enables  us  to  understand  why  so  few  of  the  impor- 


/•DMoi  'I'll  h'och  s'rwDAun  \\i>  nh'i:i:i>  book  48 

tations  became  established  and  \vh}'  so  many  failed  to  perpetuate 
themselves. 

English  Types  in  America. —  iMiglish  importations  have 
been  freciuent  all  along  since  Lhe  middle  of  the  nineteenth  cen- 
tury. The  English  developed  a  few  breeds  that  were  exceedingly 
popular  during  the  early  days  of  modern  American  poultry  keep- 
ing. With  the  advent  of  purely  American  breeds,  however,  the 
popularity  of  these  breeds  rapidly  declined.  The  English  breeds 
of  today  most  commonly  kept  here  are  of  later  origin  and  par- 
take more  of  the  nature  of  the  American  breeds. 

American  Types. — That  the  people  of  some  nations  seemed 
intent  upon  producing  breeds  that  excelled  in  egg  production, 
while  others  were  equally  zealous  in  their  endeavors  to  produce 
breeds  that  surpassed  in  the  quality  of  their  flesh,  has  already 
been  pointed  out.  Americans,  however,  were  never  content  in 
attempting  to  excel  in  but  a  single  quality.  It  is  a  noteworthy 
fact  that  all  our  American  breeds  are  the  result  of  attempts  on 
the  part  of  one  or  more  breeders  to  make  a  cross,  or  a  series  of 
crosses,  that  would  establish  a  new  breed  which  excelled  all  those 
that  had  preceded  it  for  egg  production,  for  (piality  of  flesh,  and 
for  (juantity  of  flesh  compared  to  offal. 

A  study  of  the  history  of  the  recognized  American  l)reeds 
will  confirm  these  statements.  Their  names  alone  will  establish 
the  fact  that  American  endeavor  has  been  extended  wholly  along 
dual-purpose  lines. 


SECTION     II. 
CHAPTER  I. 

BREEDING    DOMESTIC    FOWLS 

THI^  advancement,  as  heretofore  related,  has  been  an 
accom])lishrnent  of  the  "breeder's  art,"  which  consists 
of  many  methods  and  systems  of  selection  and  mating. 
Mating — By  Natural  Selection. — Prompted  by  natural  in- 
stincts to  reproduce  and  perpetuate  the  species,  fowls,  in  the 
wild  state,  themselves  choose  mates  of  the  opposite  sex  as  they 
will  in  domestication,  if  allowed  to  do  so.  What  attributes  or 
caprice  influences  this  selection  is  as  yet  undiscovered  by  the 
closest  students  of  the  life  and  habits  of  either  domesticated  or 
wild  fowls.  Yet.  it  does  seem  that  the  more  magnificent  and 
lordly  males  are  always  surrounded  by  a  flock  of  admiring  and 
obedient  females.  If  this  is  the  true  situation,  it  is  then  a  wise 
natural  provision,  because  it  means  that  the  strongest,  most 
rugged  and  vital  of  the  males  become  the  consorts  of  the  females 
to  the  exclusion  of  the  weaker.  The  doctrine  of  survival  of  the 
fittest,  then,  has  a  wide  reaching  influence ;  inasmuch  as  each 
male  consorts  with  several  females  comparatively  few  males  are 
necessary,  and  only  the  most  select  as  to  physical  fitness  have  an 
influence  upon  the  progeny. 

The  inclination  of  the  male  to  gather  about  him  a  half-dozen, 
a  dozen,  or  a  score  of  females  is,  from  an  economic  standpoint, 
a  lasting  advantage ;  not  so  much  because  so  few  males  have  to 
be  kept,  but  because  it  is  necessary  to  permit  only  the  males  that 
are  best  from  the  breeder's  standpoint,  whether  it  be  for  size, 
egg-producing  lineage  or  brilliant  plumage,  in  the  breeding 
vards. 

Artificial  Selectic.i. — Promiscuous  matings  are  no  longer  a 
feature  of  our  well-conducted,  modern  poultry  establishments, 
large  or  small.  The  intelligent  poultryman  must  supply  a  prod- 
uct that  measures  up  to  a  certain  "standard."  Whether  that 
"standard"  demands  a  certain  number  of  eggs  a  year  per  hen. 
or  eggs  of  a  certain  color,  or  size,  or  weight ;  a  fowl  that  pro- 
duces a  given  number  of  pounds  of  flesh  in  a  given  time,  or  one 

44 


PLYMOITH  lUU'K  S'rWDAh'D  AM)  JUfHHD  Booh  45 

that  develops  feathers  that  grow  backwards,  is  immaterial.  Only 
those  males  and  females  that  excel  in  the  characteristics  de- 
manded by  this  particular  race  or  kind  of  fowl,  because  those, 
and  only  those  that  excel  in  the  characteristics  demanded,  will 
reproduce  them  in  the  greatest  measure. 

Systems. — In  order  to  reach  their  goal,  whatever  that  may 
be,  breeders  of  all  kinds  of  poultry,  for  any  and  all  purposes, 
long  ago  adopted  methods  that  were  sure  to  prevent  their  birds 
mating  by  natural  selection  and  substituted  selections  of  their 
own.  This  has  led  to  different  systems  of  matings.  At  first 
these  were  very  simple,  but  the  longer  the  fowls  were  studied 
the  more  exacting  standards  became  ;  and  the  deeper  breeding 
problems  were  probed  the  more  complicated  they  seemed,  so  in 
time  the  system  of  mating  became  more  or  less  complex,  until 
now,  in  some  cases,  the  system  itself,  though  simple  in  theory,  is 
such  that  the  application  becomes  most  complicated.  There  are 
instances,  however,  when  the  system  of  mating,  though  seem- 
ingly complicated,  is  very  simple  of  application.  In  several  well 
known  instances,  the  system  that  is  the  simplest  and  clearest  to 
understand  becomes  the  most  difficult  to  practice  successfully, 
while  the  one  that  is  more  complicated,  theoretically,  is  found  to 
be  more  easily  applied  and  more  certain  of  results. 

Single  Matings.— In  the  beginning,  whether  mating  for  egg 
production,  large  size,  or  certain  excellencies  in  plumage,  real 
or  imaginary,  the  breeder  selected  for  his  matings  the  specimens 
of  both  sexes  that  nearest  approached  his  ideals.  This  consti- 
tutes what  is  now  known  as  a  single  mating.  That  is,  a  single 
mating  is  one  in  which  both  sexes  conform  more  or  less  closely 
to  a  certain  ideal  or  standard  ;  each  sex  of  the  progeny  of  such  a 
mating  is  also  expected  to  conform  more  or  less  closely  to  the 
requirements  of  such  an  ideal  or  standard.  Under  the  American 
Standard  of  Perfection,  a  single  mating  consists  of  a  male  and 
females  that  conform  to  a  certain  degree  of  approximation,  at 
least,  to  requirements  for  that  breed  and  variety,  as  described 
and  portrayed  in  the  afore-named  Standard.  As  two  females 
alike  in  all  respects  have  never  been  produced,  a  strict  definition 
of  an  ideal  single  mating  would  be — a  mating  consisting  of  a 
male  and  females  conforming  to  the  requirements  of  the  Stand- 
ard of  Perfection,  and  the  ideal  results  from  an  ideal  single 
mating  would  be  sons  like  the  sire  and  daughters  like  the  dam. 


40  AMEJnCA.X   J'Ol  J/l'h'V  ASS(>C1ATW.\ 

In  other  words,  both  the  parents  and  their  progeny  would  be 
ideal  specimens,  judged  according  to  the  Standard  of  Perfection. 
Of  course,  ideal  birds  never  existed  and  undoubtedly  never  will. 
Therefore,  a  practical  definition  has  already  been  given. 

This  system  of  mating  is  almost  universally  practiced  in  the 
breeding  of  solid-colored  varieties ;  and  very  much  in  the  breed- 
ing of  parti-colored  varieties,  but  not  universally  so  i)y  any 
means. 

Intermediate  Matings. — Before  the  art  of  breeding  had  been 
practiced  long  under  the  several  Standards  that  preceded  the  one 
that  now  governs  our  breeding  operations,  it  was  discovered 
that  the  same  hen  that  produced  the  best  males  in  the  j)arti- 
colored  varieties,  did  not  produce  as  a  rule  the  best  females  when 
judged  by  the  accepted  Standard.  This  discovery  led  to  the 
practice,  after  observing  results  from  different  individuals,  of 
using  in  many  matings  females  of  different  types  of  plumage, 
some  from  which  the  best  males  and  others  from  which  the  best 
females  were  expected.  This  l)ecame  a  common  practice. 
Usually  a  small  number,  say  one,  two  or  three  females  from 
which  the  best  exhibition  males,  and  four,  five,  six  or  more 
from  which  the  best  exhibition  females  were  expected,  were 
placed  in  each  mating.  It  is  really  a  modification  of  both, 
the  single  mating  and  double  mating  systems,  and,  because 
it  partakes  of  the  natiu'e  of  both,  may  be  called  an  Inter- 
mediate vSystem.  It  is  in  reality  an  application  of  double 
mating  principles  on  one  side  of  the  mating,  the  female,  and 
thereby  an  acknowledgement  of  the  necessity  of  double  mating. 
It  may  be  said  to  have  been  the  first  step  toward  the  practice  of 
double  mating  and  was  in  common  use  long  before  the  adoption 
of  the  double  mating  system  in  its  entirety.  This  modification  of 
the  single  mating  system  is  still  practiced  by  those  who  breed 
parti-colored  varieties,  and  who  are  opposed  to  the  system  to 
which  allusion  has  been  made,  as  apparently  complicated  but  of 
easy  ai)plication  in  actual  i)ractice. 

Double  Matings. — The  double  mating  system  is  known  only 
among  breeders  of  standard-bred  poultry  Ijecause  it  is  not  prac- 
ticed by  breeders  of  other  forms  of  animal  life.  It  may  be  defined 
as  a  system  which  employs  special  and  separate  lines  of  fowls 
and  breeding  to  produce  exhibition  males  and  females.  That  is, 
under  this  system,  the  exhibition  male  line  is  only  used  to  pro- 
duce exhibition  males  or  with  any  expectation  of  doing  so.  The 
females  of  the  male  line,  as  well  as  the  males,  are  expected  to 


I'LYMOf  TH  IWVK  S'l'  \  MtA  h'l)  AM)  Uh'HI.'n  liOOK  47 

produce  exhibition  males  and  no  exhibition  females.  The  same 
principles  hold  true  for  the  exhibition  female  line ;  both  male  and 
females  of  the  exhibition  female  line  are  expected  to  produce 
exhibition  females.  The  males  are  in  turn  used  to  breed  exhibi- 
tion females,  but  the  males  are  not  expected  to  be  exhibition 
birds,  or  to  produce  exhibition  males.  That  is,  as  already  ex- 
plained, the  province  of  the  male  line. 

Though  already  stated,  the  fact  should  be  emphasized  that 
this  system  of  mating  is  commonly  practiced  only  by  breeders 
of  parti-colored  fowls.  The  conclusion  can  be  clearly  drawn 
that  separate  matings  to  i)roduce  standard  males  and  standard 
females  are  necessary  on  account  of  color  requirements.  Seldom 
are  separate  matings  used,  or  even  thought  to  be  necessary,  to 
produce  the  requirements  for  shape  of  either  males  or  females. 
Such  expediencies  have  been  resorted  to  very  infrequently  and 
the  practice  has  passed  almost  entirely  out  of  use.  It  is  generally 
considered  that  the  standard  shape  of  male  and  female  coincides 
when  due  allowance  has  been  made  for  natural  difference  in 
shape  of  male  and  female.  In  this  regard  the  experiences  and 
practices  of  poultry  breeders  do  not  dift'er  in  any  particular  from 
those  of  breeders  of  other  animals.  The  breeders  of  forms  of 
animal  life  in  which  little  attention  is  paid  to  color,  never  think 
of.  let  alone  use.  a  special  or  separate  line  of  breeding  for 
each  sex. 

From  the  facts  as  stated,  it  appears  that  we  must  find  our 
excuse,  if  excuse  it  may  be  called  or  if  an  excuse  is  necessary, 
which  is  doubtful — better  should  we  call  it  a  necessity — for  spe- 
cial or  double  matings  to  produce  the  males  and  females  that 
nearest  approach  the  standard  descriptions  among  parti-colored 
fowls,  in  the  color  requirements  alone. 

The  first  question  that  comes  to  mind  is,  why  not  adopt  a 
standard  description  for  males  and  females  of  the  parti-colored 
fowls  that  would  coincide,  making  due  allowances  for  the  natural 
color  differences  of  the  two  sexes,  as  we  have  in  shape? 

The  answer  to  this  (juestion  is  found  in  others  like  it.  Can 
it  l)e  done?  When  has  it  been  accomplished?  If  a  standard 
could  be  written  in  which  the  color  description  of  both  males 
and  females  of  parti-colored  fowls  would  be  such  that  standard- 
colored  males  and  standard-colored  females,  mated  together, 
would  produce  standard-colored  males  and  standard-colored 
females,  would  breeders  and  exhibitors  be  satisfied  with  the 
appearance  of  both  sexes  ?     It  is  conceded  that  the  best  males  to 


n,  C  State  College 

4S  AM  ERIC  AA  POlT/rRY  ASS!OCIATIO\ 

produce  exhibition  females,  of  the  parti-colored  varieties,  are  the 
sons  of  the  best  exhibition  females.  Therefore,  if  we  are  to 
make  a  standard  that  will  permit  the  highest  attainments  of  color 
and  markings  in  the  females  of  parti-colored  varieties,  we  must 
describe  for  their  ideal  mates,  the  sons  of  such  females.  Do  the 
sons  of  such  follow  very  closely  the  present  standard  description, 
and,  if  not,  would  an  adequate  description  of  the  sons  of  females 
of  high  standard  equality,  as  we  find  them,  be  acceptable  to  the 
breeders  of  many  of  the  parti-colored  varieties?  It  must  be 
fully  taken  into  consideration  that  an  accurate  description  of 
such  must  be  accepted  as  our  standard  ideal,  if  we  are  to  have  a 
Standard  based  upon  the  highest  ideals  of  female  plumage. 

( )n  the  other  hand,  if  we  accept  the  present  Standard  for 
exhibition  males  and  we  propose  to  have  a  Standard  that  is  such 
that  both  exhibition  males  and  females  can  be  bred  from  a  stand- 
ard (single)  mating,  the  description  of  exhibition  females  in  the 
(proposed)  standard  must  coincide  with  the  description  of  the 
females  that  our  best  exhibition  males  produce,  as  the  females 
that  produce  our  best  exhibition  males  are  always  the  daughters 
of  our  best  exhibition  males.  Therefore,  one  method  of  making 
single  mating  feasible  would  be  to  adopt  the  present  Standard 
on  males  and  for  the  standard  females  describe  such  females  as 
the  best  exhibition  males  produce.  The  adoption  of  such  a  stand- 
ard, one  based  on  the  present  exhibition  males  and  the  daughters 
of  exhibition  males,  would  mean  that  the  exhibition  females  as 
at  present  described  in  the  Standard  would  disappear  from  the 
show  room  and,  in  all  probability,  from  the  breeding  yards 
as  well. 

This  might  be  one  way  of  making  successful  single  matings 
possible ;  the  other,  as  already  pointed  out,  might  be  by  accepting 
the  description  of  the  standard  female  and  adopting  in  place  of 
the  present  description  of  the  standard  male,  a  description  of 
such  males  as  the  best  standard  female  produces. 

Theoretically,  a  single  or  standard  mating  under  tliese  condi- 
tions should  produce  standard  specimens  of  both  sexes.  The 
vital  question  is  not,  however,  will  a  standard  or  single  mating 
produce  standard  chicks  of  both  sexes,  BUT — because  it  is  the 
best  specimens  that  we  seek  to  produce  for  exhibition  purposes 
— the  question  most  positively  becomes,  will  the  best  male  mated 
to  the  best  female  produce  both  the  best  males  and  the  best 
females?  This  is  the  vital  question,  for  if  the  best  male  mated 
to  the  best  female  would  produc  only  the  best  males — then,  in 


PLY.UOI  Til   IHK'K  N7  l.\/>  l/.'/>  Wit   lil{i:i:i)   HOOK  4;» 

order  to  produce  our  best  females,  we  need  a  slightly  different 
female  with  this  sire,  or  we  need  a  little  different  male  with 
the  dam. 

If  the  original  pair  produces  the  best  females,  but  not  the 
best  males,  the  same  fundamental  change  must  be  made  in  the 
mating  to  produce  the  best  males.  A  different  male  with  the 
dam,  or  another  and  different  female  must  be  mated  with  the  sire. 

But  when  two  females  that  differ  in  either  color  or  markings 
are  used  with  the  same  male,  one  intended  to  produce  the  females 
nearest  approaching  our  ideal,  and  another  to  produce  the  male 
nearest  the  ideal,  so  radical  a  departure  from  the  principles  of 
single  mating  is  incorporated  that  an  admission  of  the  necessity 
of  a  special  mating  to  produce  the  best  ideals  of  either  sex 
becomes  most  pronounced. 

To  pursue  this  line  of  thought  a  step  further — how  often 
would  a  mating  consisting  of  the  best  male  and  the  best  female 
produce  the  best  males  and  best  females  to  comply  with  any 
fixed  standard  of  color  or  markings  in  parti-colored  fowls? 
How  often  would  such  a  mating  produce  either  the  best  males  or 
females  and  how  often  would  it  produce  neither?  Much  more 
often  by  far  than  not.  it  will  produce  neither  the  best  males  nor 
the  best  females,  make  the  Standard  read  as  you  like. 

On  the  other  hand,  under  the  present  Standard  by  using  spe- 
cial matings  for  each  sex,  it  is  known  to  be  more  than  possible 
to  produce  the  best  males  by  breeding  such  to  their  own  daugh- 
ters or  daughters  of  other  high  quality  males.  Results  of  this 
kind  have  been  accomplished  for  years  and  are  being  accom- 
plished continually.  Like  results  are  being  accomplished  in 
breeding  the  best  exhibition  females  by  mating  such  to  their  sons 
or  the  sons  of  other  females  of  high  exhibition  quality. 

If  the  Standard  is  fundamentally  wrong  because  special 
matings  for  each  sex  are  necessary  to  meet  its  requirements,  the 
problem  for  solution  is  not  how  may  we  change  the  Standard 
to  make  these  special  matings  unnecessary,  but  how  may  we 
make  a  Standard  so  that  its  requirements  will  not  place  a  handi- 
cap on  standard  matings,  and  a  premium  upon  special  matings 
for  each  sex.  The  problem  has  been  before  us  since  the  first 
Standard  was  made,  and  as  yet  no  one  has  offered  a  solution 
that  seemed  theoretically  plausible,  let  alone  being  practically 
possible.  Special  matings  haye  been  producing  the  best  speci- 
mens all  these  years.     From   either  standpoint,  performance  or 


.-.o  AMKUIC.W  ]'(>(  J/Jh')      \SS(K'l\'ri(>\ 

theory,  the  argument  favors  tlie  product  of  special  luatings  for 
each  sex. 

At  the  present  writing,  there  is  unquestional)ly  a  strong  de- 
sire on  the  part  of  breeders  and  exhibitors  generally  to  adopt 
standard  (or  single)  matings.  even  if  the  Standard  has  to  be 
modified  or  changed  in  order  to  permit  the  breeding  of  the  best 
specimens  of  both  sexes  from  one  mating.  The  object  is  to 
simplify  breeding  problems  for  beginners,  which,  in  the  estima- 
tion of  many,  would  do  much  to  popularize  a  variety.  But  as 
yet  no  one  has  suggested  a  way  to  accomplish  this  that  inspires 
the  confidence  of  his  contemporaries.  Changes  toward  this  end 
in  standard  requirements  are  accompanied  by  two  serious  con- 
siderations :  first,  will  such  changes,  as  it  at  first  appears  may 
tend  to  solve  the  difticulty,  be  acceptable  when  the  result,  namely, 
the  specimens  produced,  come  to  view ;  and,  secondly,  would 
such  changes  or  any  changes,  that  have  yet  occurred  to  any  one, 
place  a  premium  upon  the  progeny  of  standard  matings  by  pro- 
ducing better  specimens  thereby,  than  can  be  produced  by  other 
methods,  specifically  by  what  is  known  as  double-matings,  which 
really  amounts  to  a  special  mating  for  each  sex?  No  system  of 
mating  can  long  endure  after  breeders  find  another  way  of  pro- 
ducing better  specimens.  The  final  test  is  the  closest  conformity 
to  the  Standard  requirements.  Who,  then,  can  compile  a  stand- 
ard that  will  so  state  its  requirements  that  the  specimens  pro- 
duced from  standard  (single)  matings  will  excel  those  produced 
by  any  other  system  that  man  may  devise?  The  system  that 
does  that  very  thing  will  be  most  generally  practiced  by  those 
who  breed  exhibition  birds  from  now  till  the  end  of  time. 

In-Breeding. — The  in-breeding  is  the  surest  and  quickest 
way,  if  not  the  only  way,  to  perpetuate  desired  characteristics  is 
a  generally  accepted  theory.  It  becomes,  then,  the  fundamental 
means  of  establishing  certain  qualities  in  a  line  or  a  strain.  The 
longer  the  in-breeding  of  successive  generations  which  possess 
certain  distinctive  features  is  continued,  the  more  fixed  these  fea- 
tures become. 

Limit  of  In-Breeding. — How  long  in-breeding  may  be  con- 
tinued is  an  open  and  unsettled  question.  Obviously,  the  number 
of  generations  that  may  be  inbred  depends  U])on  several  things, 
the  first  of  which  is  the  relationship  of  the  original  pair,  whether 
these  were  unrelated,  distantly  or  closely  related.  Secondly,  it 
depends  upon  the  stamina  of  the  original  stock,  and  further,  or 
thirdly,  upon  how  much  stamina  is  maintained  by  selection,  for 


PLYMOUTH  Uorh  STWDAUI)  A\l>   l!h'i:i:i>  KOOK  r.1 

it  is  possible  to  select  for  strength  and  vigor  as  well  as  any  other 
quality.  In  many  cases  stamina  is  the  first  and  most  important 
consideration  for  selection.  Usually,  in-breeding,  if  too  long- 
continued,  results  in  loss  of  vitality,  which  is  indicated  by  in- 
creased infertility,  slower  growth,  smaller  size,  delayed  feather- 
ing in  the  young,  and  after  a  time  by  weak  and  twisted  feathers 
in  adults.  These  highly  undesirable  qualities  appear  so  gradually 
and  increase  in  intensity  so  slowly  in  succeeding  generations  that 
they  often  diminish  the  value  of  many  a  flock  very  appreciably 
before  they  are  detected. 

Out-Crossing. — When  such  a  condition  is  found  to  exist  the 
only  remedy  is  out-crossing.  This  consists,  of  course,  of  intro- 
ducing the  blood  of  some  other  line  or  strain  into  the  flock  ;  an 
expediency  that  is  accompanied  by  danger  of  losing  qualities 
that  have  been  gained  by  several  generations,  perhaps,  of  in- 
breeding. There  are,  however,  several  modes  of  introducing  new 
blood,  some  of  which  are  accompanied  by  great  risks,  and  others 
that,  though  somewhat  slower  in  operation,  are  comparatively 
safe.  New  blood  can  be  very  quickly  introduced  by  using  a 
male  of  an  unrelated  line.  The  effect,  as  far  as  restoring  vitality 
in  all  its  phases  is  concerned,  is  almost  magical,  and  usually,  it 
is  fully  as  eflicacious  in  destroying  the  very  characteristics  to 
establish  which  in-breeding  was  practiced  too  long.  Unless  a 
male  from  a  strain  that  possesses  very  closely  the  same  attributes 
that  have  become  so  strongly  established  in  the  first  strain  can 
be  secured,  the  introduction  of  new  blood  through  the  male, 
directly,  is  experimental,  to  say  the  least,  and  the  results  cannot 
be  even  approximately  foretold,  because  even  though  the  first 
out-cross  produces  specimens  that  are  satisfactory,  the  second 
generation  is  very  liable  to  prove  disappointing  in  breeding 
prowess. 

It  is  much  safer  to  proceed  slowly  and  cautiously.  One  safe 
mode  of  out-crossing  would  be  as  follows :  a  male  of  an  unre- 
lated line  (B^  may  be  bred  to  a  few  females  of  the  first  line 
(A)  and  the  '.emale  progeny  of  this  mating  (BA)  mated  back  to 
males  of  th'j  first  line  (A),  and  so  on  for  as  many  generations  as 
seem  advisable,  using  the  female  progeny  for  new  blood,  until 
the  results  are  satisfactory,  when  the  progeny  may  be  recrossed 
with  the  original  line,  both  ways.  Occasionally  the  results  of  the 
first  cross  will  be  so  pre-eminently  satisfactory  that  males  from 
this  cross  may  be  used  upon  the  original  line,  but  only  in  case 
the  results  are  most  satisfactorv,  and  even  then  it  is  better  to 


52  .1  )//•;/(•/ r,i\  j'oi  i/i'in    \ss(K'/A'ri<>\ 

guard  against  disappointment  by  also  mating-  males  of  the  orig- 
inal line  to  the  females  that  are  one-half  new  1)lood.  by  also 
maintaining  the  original  line,  or  by  both  methods  of  safeguard- 
ing the  merits  of  the  original  line. 

A  method  commonly  practiced,  bnt  not  commonly  enough, 
which  is  the  safest  from  two  standpoints,  is  to  secure  each  year 
or  every  second  year,  a  female  from  another  strain,  mate  her 
with  a  male  of  the  strain  which  needs,  or  may  need,  an  infusion 
of  new  blood,  and  mate  the  female  progeny  with  the  sire  or  a 
male  of  the  same  line  or  same  breeding  as  the  sire.  Both  the 
males  and  females  of  this  generation  will  usually  have  acquired 
the  characteristics  of  the  original  strain  to  a  marked  degree  and 
breeders  may  be  thereafter  selected  by  the  same  process  as 
though  the  blood  was  of  one  strain. 

Strain-building. — A  breeder  often  desires  to  acquire,  perhaps, 
a  single  characteristic,  perhaps  more  than  one,  in  which  his  strain 
is  deficient.  In  order  to  do  this,  he  is  compelled  to  secure  new 
blood  from  a  strain  that  is  noted  for  the  predominance  of  the 
required  characteristics.  This  may  be  accomplished  in  the  ways 
that  have  already  been  indicated,  accompanied  by  accurate  selec- 
tion for  those  characteristics.  If  the  acquisition  of  several  char- 
acteristics is  desired,  because  a  strain  is  notably  deficient  in  these 
respects,  the  project  becomes  complicated,  and  it  may  be  neces- 
sary to  line-breed  from  the  best  representatives  of  one.  two,  or 
more  strains. 

Line-Breeding. — Among  poultrymen  line-breeding  may  mean 
at  least  one  of  two  things.  It  may  mean,  as  above,  the  inter- 
breeding of  two  or  more  strains  with  all  the  blood  tracing  back 
to  a  few  specimens,  usually  of  extraordinary  merit,  or  predomi- 
nating in  the  desired  characteristics.  The  object  is  to  amalga- 
mate, eventually,  the  blood  of  all  the  strains  employed  until  by 
per])etuating  the  desired  characteristics,  a  new  strain  becomes 
established. 

The  term  line-breeding  is  also  used  to  refer  to  in-breeding, 
as  when  the  sire  is  bred  to  his  female  progeny,  the  dam  to  her 
male  progeny,  or  the  offspring  are  bred  together,  and  in-breeding 
among  the  progeny  is  continued,  so  that  the  blood  of  one  or  more 
birds  reoccurs  often  in  the  ancestry  of  successive  generations. 
That  is.  when  by  in-breeding  or  by  in-and-in-breeding,  a  line  is 
established  based  upon  predominating  excellencies  of  one  or  at 
the  most  two  birds,  the  desirable  qualities  of  which  are  thereby 
very  strongly  fixed  in  the  progeny,  it  is  line-breeding  with  the 
number  of  the  l)reeding  lines  that  arc  traceable  back  to  the  bird 


PLYMOITH  NOCK  xT AyDARD  A\n  BREED  BOOK  o.S 

or  the  pair  of  birds  that  laid  the  foundation  of  the  Hne  depending 
entirely  upon  the  number  of  generations  produced  and  the  mode 
of  breeding. 

In-Breeding  and  Line-Breeding. — The  terms  "line-l)reeding" 
and  "in-breeding"  are  often  confused  or  misunderstood.  From 
the  foregoing,  it  will  he  understood  that  line-breeding  may  be 
in-breeding  or  may  not.  In  case  that  the  line  is  built  upon  the 
foundation  of  the  blood  of  one  pair  of  birds,  line-breeding  is 
in-breeding.  Line-breeding  may  be  practiced  without  in-breed- 
ing in  its  broadest  sense  by  using  blood  of  the  same  lines  that 
is  but  distantly  related. 

In-breeding  might  be  descril)ed,  strictly,  as  the  breeding  of 
related  birds,  or  birds  that  trace  back  to  a  common  ancestor, 
but  whether  that  is  in  effect  in-breeding  or  not,  depends  entirely 
upon  the  closeness  of  such  relationship.  In-breeding  in  the  mind 
of  the  average  poultry  breeder  consists  in  mating  the  parent  with 
the  progeny,  or  the  progeny  of  one  common  parent,  at  least, 
together. 

Injudicious  In-breeding. — There  exists,  without  a  chance  for 
denial,  a  tendency  among  poultrymen  to  in-breed  as  long  as  the 
desired  characteristics  are  maintained  ;  and.  if  the  desired  char- 
acteristics are  but  "hobbies"  of  the  breeder,  the  pleasure  of  pro- 
ducing these  sometimes  so  blinds  his  perceptive  faculties  that 
he  fails  to  notice  defects  so  grave  in  character  that  they  nullify 
the  excellent  qualities  to  which  he  has  become  wedded.  This 
fault  in  such  an  instance  must  not,  however,  be  attributed  to  the 
systems  of  in-breeding  or  line-breeding,  but  to  the  blindness  of 
the  lireeder  as  to  these  faults. 

Stud-Matings. — Stud  mating  or  stud  l^reeding  is  practiced 
sometimes  to  prevent  the  male  from  consorting  too  much  with 
favorites  to  the  neglect  of  the  other  females,  and  sometimes  to 
obtain  as  many  chicks  as  possible  from  a  male  of  more  than 
average  quality.  The  result  of  this  neglect,  in  the  first  instance, 
is  to  restrict  the  number  of  females  actually  mated,  and  in  the 
second,  is  an  unnecessarily  large  proportion  of  infertile  eggs. 
Stud-mating  assures  the  impartial  distribution  of  the  male's 
powers  of  reproduction.  A  larger  number  of  females  may  be 
fertilized  by  the  same  male  by  following  this  method,  which  is  to 
allow  the  male  and  each  female  to  mate  only  at  stated  intervals. 
In  order  to  thus  restrict  the  number  of  services  each  female  shall 
receive,  the  males  and  females  are  kept  separate,  and  at  given 
intervals  the  females  are  placed  in  the  male's  pen  or  yard,  one 


54  AMERICAN  POILTRY  AHHOVIATIOy 

at  a  time,  and  removed  either  immediately  after  mating,  or  when 
the  next  female  is  brought  to  the  male.  When  trapnesting  is 
})racticed,  it  is  handy  to  take  the  hen  from  the  trapnest  after 
laying  to  the  pen  in  which  the  male  is  kept. 

Resting  Males. — Quite  another  method  to  increase  the  per- 
centage of  fertility  of  the  eggs  by  overcoming  the  neglect  of 
some  of  the  females  by  the  male,  is  to  use  different  males  on 
alternate  days.  It  is  reasoned  that  with  two  males,  fewer  females 
would  be  neglected,  as  the  males  would  be  unlikely  to  select  the 
same  favorites.  However  that  idea  proves  out,  the  common 
practice  of  confining  each  male  on  alternate  days  certainly  affords 
an  opportunity  to  rest,  and  eat  sufficient  food,  of  which  oppor- 
tunity a  male,  more  than  probably,  does  not  avail  himself  while 
running  with  the  females.  Males,  under  this  system,  keep  in 
better  condition  physically,  and  consequently  are  more  able  to 
propagate  strong  and  vigorous  offspring. 

Large  Matings. — Infertility  of  hatching  eggs,  accountable  to 
the  favoritism  of  males,  is  naturally  infrequent  in  breeding  flocks 
so  large  as  to  require  the  presence  of  several  males.  In  this 
case,  the  explanation  offered  in  the  preceding  paragraph  remains 
'rue. 

Individual  Disposition. — The  disposition  of  the  fowl  should 
receive  serious  consideration.  \'ery  often  we  see  such  individ- 
uals that  when  at  a  distance  or  unaware  of  the  fact  that  they 
are  under  observation  or  in  close  proximity  to  a  human  being  or 
any  animal  except  those  of  their  own  genus,  pose  strikingly  and 
show  splendid  form ;  yet  when  approached,  go  all  to  pieces,  as 
the  expression  is,  which  means  that  they  become  so  frightened 
that  they  lose  all  style,  and  all  semblance  of  correct  shape  dis- 
appears. The  most  kindly  overtures  and  best  efforts  to  accustom 
these  individuals  to  the  ways  of  complete  domestication  are 
wasted,  and  only  one  conclusion  is  possible,  namely,  that  such 
birds  lack  the  ordinary  intelligence  even  of  their  order  of  animal 
life.  Such  individuals  are  of  little  use  either  in  the  show  coop 
or  the  breeding  pen.  In  the  show  coop,  because  they  stand  un- 
naturally and  awkwardly,  and  seem  persistently  intent  upon 
making  an  escape,  and  must  consequently  show  in  poor  form ; 
and  for  breeders  because  dispositions  as  well  as  any  other  char- 
acteristics are  transmittable  and,  more  than  that,  it  is  admitted 
that  the  contented,  happy  hen  is  the  hen  that  lays  most  fre- 
quently, from  which  it  follows  that  these  individuals  that  lack 
contentedness  to  the  extent  of  never  being  competent  to  adjust 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  HOOK  55 

themselves  to  their  surroundings  are  poor  layers  as  well  as  poor 
breeders  and  show  birds. 

From  this  it  may  be  logically  inferred  that  occasionally  a 
bird  reverts  to  its  wild  ancestry  and  is  incapable  of  true  domes- 
tication. 

Mendelisin='\ — Mendelism  is  a  law  of  inheritance  discovered 
by  Gregor  Johann  Mendel  in  1868.  and  rediscovered  by  De  Vries, 
Correns  and  Tschermak  in  1900.  It  is  generally  considered 
under  three  heads  :  Unit  characters,  dominance,  and  segregation. 
The  important  feature  is  the  latter — that  is,  the  segregation  of 
potential  factors  in  the  germ  cells  of  crosses  and  their  chance 
combination. 

In  animal  breeding,  absolute  purity  of  all  inherited  factors 
is  difficult  to  obtain,  as  the  parents  even  in  highly  selected  stock 
generally  differ  in  their  inheritance.  Therefore,  segregation  and 
recoml)ination  invariably  occurs.  Hence  the  necessity  for  con- 
stant selection  toward  a  desired  end. 

If  the  breeding  of  fowls  involved  simply  one,  two  or  a  \ery 
few  characteristics,  the  application  of  Mendelian  principles  would 
be  easily  followed  and  understood,  but,  as  at  present  practiced, 
this  application  in  the  1)reeding  of  standard  fowls  with  their 
many  requirements  in  shape,  color  and  markings,  becomes  a 
difficult  problem. 

However,  the  application  of  the  Mendel  law  has  had  little, 
if  any,  bearing  upon  the  accomplishments  of  breeders  of  stand- 
ard-bred fowls.  It  is  only  within  a  very  few  years  that  Men- 
delian principles  have  been  studied  in  this  connection,  and  at  the 
present  time  only  a  very  few  of  the  more  studious  and  best  edu- 
cated fanciers  and  breeders  are  making  efforts  to  apply  these 
principles. 

However,  several  of  the  state  educational  institutions  and 
experiment  stations  are  applying  these  principles,  and  closely 
observing  and  recording  the  results.  The  most  important  appli- 
cation is  in  connection  with  the  inheritance  in  fecimdity,  the  one 
feature  in  breeders  that  may  be  accurately  stated,  possibly  accu- 
rately measured,  though  even  in  this  case,  the  influence  of  loca- 
tion, environment  and  climatical  changes  from  season  to  season, 
month  to  month,  etc.,  mav.  of  course,  affect  the  results. 


*For   a   complete   treatise   of   tliis   subject,   the   reader   should    eonsult 
some  work  on  "Genetics." 


5(5  .1  i//;A'/r  1 A   I'ot  i.'iin   associatiox 

CHAPTER  II. 

PRINCIPLES    OF    BREEDING 
FROM    POULTRYMAN'S    STANDPOINT 

Whatever  progress  has  l)een  made  in  the  development  of 
ditiferent  races  of  fowls,  and  from  the  jungle  Fowl  to  nearly  one 
hundred  and  fifty  distinct  varieties,  all  of  which  have  distinguish- 
able and  distinct  symbols  of  beauty,  marks  as  great  progress  as 
has  l)een  accomplished  in  any  branch  of  animal  breeding,  has 
been  the  result  of  the  application  of  only  a  few  elementary  and 
fundamental  principles. 

"Like  Begets  Like."  Upon  this  principle  as  a  foundation 
lias  rested  the  entire  structure  of  standard-bred  ])oultry  breeding. 
Coupled  together  with  another  principle  (juite  as  elementary  and 
possibly  quite  as  fundamental,  namely,  that  defects  in  one  parent 
may  be  corrected  by  selecting  for  the  parent  of  the  opposite  sex 
one  that  excels  in  the  same  character  in  which  the  first  was  de- 
fective, or  one  that  fails  in  the  same  character  as  the  first,  but 
in  the  opposite  direction,  it  is  responsible  for  the  progress  made 
thus  far. 

This  amounts  to  the  following  precepts :  When  two  birds 
of  the  opposite  sex  having  like  characters  are  mated,  the  progeny 
will  be  like  the  parents  with  respect  to  these  like  characters  ; 
when  the  characters  are  unlike  in  the  parents,  these  characters 
in  the  progeny  will  vary  between  the  extremes  exemplified  by 
the  parents,  with  a  tendency  for  the  greater  number  of  the  prog- 
eny to  show  a  mean  between  these  extremes.  Together  these 
simple  rules  account  for  the  development  of  the  difYerent  breeds, 
the  creation  of  the  new  varieties  of  the  same  breed,  and  the  im- 
provement and  development  of  those  varieties  already  estab- 
lished. 

Why  Like  Begets  Like. — Of  this  precept  no  fundamental  or 
scientific  explanation  can  be  offered.  It  is  accepted  as  an  axiom 
to  a  certain  extent,  though  to  the  full  extent  it  does  not.  perhaps, 
quite  conform  to  modern  theories.  It  is  as  fundamentally  true 
in  the  breeding  of  all  other  forms  of  life  as  in  the  breeding  of 
poultry.  One  of  the  first  facts  that  any  student  of  either  plant 
or  animal  life  observes  is  that  every  seed  produces  after  its 
kind.  The  maxim  "like  begets  like,"  then,  is  in  a  general  way 
axiomatically  proved.     In  animal  breeding,  the  reproducting  sex 


I'I,\\HU  Til  h'OCK  NV  I  V/>  I/.'/)  A\l>   lil{i:i:D  ROOK  57 

cannot  fertilize  itself,  hence  the  proof  of  the  maxim  in  its  en- 
tirety cannot  be  expected.  Breeders  of  poultry  go  this  far,  how- 
ever, when  male  and  female  alike  in  certain  particulars  are  mated 
together,  that  it  is  expected  that  the  progeny  will  be  like  the 
parents  in  these  particulars.  For  instance,  when  a  male  and 
female  both  have  a  comb  with  five  points,  a  majority  of  the 
chicks  from  the  pair  would  be  expected  to  have  five-pointed 
combs.  What  deviation  did  occur  would  be  attributed  to  the 
ancestry  of  one  or  the  other,  or  both,  of  the  parents.  Another 
example,  specimens  of  the  four-toed  variety  mated  together  pro- 
duce four-toed  varieties  in  all  cases,  while  those  of  the  five-toed 
variety  when  mated  together  produce  five-toed  chicks  in  nearly 
all  cases.  The  same  applies  when  two  specimens  of  the  opposite 
sex  with  reddish-bay  eyes  are  mated  together.  Deviation  would 
be  accovmted  for  by  those  of  the  ancestors  that  did  not  have 
red  eyes. 

To  Offset  Defects. — As  an  example  of  the  second  principle 
in  general  use  by  poultry  breeders  everywhere,  that  of  correcting 
a  defect  by  mating  with  specimens  of  the  opposite  sex  that  fail 
in  the  opposite  direction,  a  male  with  a  four-point  comb,  one 
point  short  of  standard  requirement,  would  be  mated  with  a 
female  with  six  points  on  her  comb,  and  vice  versa.  If  one  of 
the  mated  pair  had  light  eyes,  it  would  l)e  mated  to  a  specimen 
with  very  dark  reddish-bay  or  even  with  deep  red  eyes.  A  speci- 
men of  a  breed  which  is  required  to  have  five  toes  that  has  but 
four  would  be  considered  so  faulty  that  it  would  not  be  used  as 
a  breeder;  it  is  a  disqualified  bird.  (See  page  16  for  definition.) 
It  is  just  as  serious  a  matter  when  the  specimen  of  the  four-toed 
variety  has  five  toes.    It  is  discarded  for  the  same  reason. 

In  many  cases  this  principle  is  modified  to  the  extent  of 
mating  birds  that  are  faulty  in  certain  respects  to  the  opposite 
sex  that  are  as  near  perfection  as  it  is  possible  to  obtain.  Faults 
may  not  be  corrected  as  speedily  in  this  way  as  by  the  other,  but 
the  method  is  more  secure  in  the  long  run,  because  it  is  better 
that  the  fowls  should  inherit  one  excellent  feature  than  two 
faults,  even  though  they  be  of  opposite  tendencies. 

Pedigrees. — Broadly  speaking,  these  rules  for  mating  have 
been  very  largely  depended  upon  by  breeders  of  standard-bred 
poultry,  whether  for  exhibition  or  commercial  purposes.  In 
practice,  the  pedigrees  for  many  generations  are  also  usually 
kept  to  help  the  breeder  in  applying  these  precepts,  especially  of 


:,S  AMI'Jh'ICW   FOlLTliY  ASSOCI ATlOX 

the  male  side,  as  that  is  much  more  easily  recorded  than  the 
female  side,  though  when  a  line  of  heavy  egg-producers  are 
sought,  the  record  of  the  dam  becomes  paramount  and  is  invari- 
ably kept  as  it  is,  or  should  be,  in  the  female  line  when  double 
matings  are  used  to  produce  exhibition  specimens.  Pedigrees 
are  of  great  assistance,  especially  if  the  characteristics  of  each 
generation  can  be  kept  in  mind,  because  the  more  generations  in 
which  a  certain  character  appears  the  more  fixed  this  character 
becomes,  whether  it  is  meritorious  or  defective. 

Word  descriptions,  feathers  and  photographs  of  each  sire 
and  dam  are  the  most  common  means  of  keeping  the  individ- 
uality of  each  generation  in  mind,  some  depending  upon  one  or 
two  ways,  while  others  use  all  three.  However  it  is  done,  it  is 
essential,  not  only  to  know  the  pedigree  for  several  generations, 
but  it  is  equally  essential  to  have  an  accurate  recollection  of  each 
sire  and  dam  for  a  number  of  generations,  as  it  is  the  only  way 
to  know  how  the  line  is  producing  for  this  or  for  that  desired 
(piality. 

Uniformity. — Uniformity  is  also  desired,  not  only  in  each 
breeding  pen,  but  in  the  ancestry  as  well.  The  more  the  chicks 
resemble  the  parents  and  the  parents  resemble  their  parents,  the 
greater  is  the  proportion  of  exhibition  birds  to  be  found  in  the 
docks  year  after  year,  provided,  of  course,  that  the  early  ancestry 
was  such.  The  desire  on  the  part  of  breeders  has  been  to  pro- 
duce uniformity  in  their  flocks,  and  to  do  so.  they  have  often 
bred  from  single  pairs  of  birds,  though  the  same  results  may  be 
accomplished  by  keeping  a  record  of  l)Oth  sire  and  dam,  even 
though  more  than  one  female  is  allowed  with  the  male ;  the  off- 
spring are  then  full  brothers  and  sisters,  or  half-brothers  and 
sisters,  and  can  be  recorded  as  such.  By  this  method  of  mating 
closely  related  individuals,  but  few  generations  are  required  to 
establish  most  uniform  flocks,  the  quality  of  which  is,  however, 
determined  largely  by  the  quality  of  the  parent  stock  and  the 
breeder's  knowledge  of  this  particular  line  of  birds,  and  his  skill 
in  properly  weighing  the  power  of  transmission  of  each  indi- 
vidual. 

Prepotency. — The  power,  which  it  is  admitted  some  birds 
]X)ssess  and  some  do  not.  to  transmit  their  own  characteristics 
to  their  oft'spring  is  called  prepotency.  In  reality,  it  may  be  said 
to  be  the  difference  in  tlie  ability  or  power  to  transmit  that  exists 
l)etween  the  parents.  We  sometimes  hear  of  an  application  dif- 
fering slightly  from  the  above,  because  there  is  occasionally  an 
individual  that  is  so  very  prepotent  that  one  or  more  of  its  promi- 
nent characteristics  are  distinguishable  in  the  progeny  for  several 


PLYHIOITH  ROCK  tiTANDARD  AND  BREHD  HOOK  .V.) 

generations.  In  such  instances,  the  individual  that  originally 
possessed  and  first  transmitted  this  characteristic  is  often  spoken 
of  as  being  very  prepotent. 

The  most  generally  accepted  theory  of  explanation  has  been 
that  by  constantly  selecting  and  breeding  specimens  with  certain 
characteristics,  these  characteristics  become  fixed  in  the  progeny, 
and  after  a  certain  numl:)er  of  generations,  more  or  less,  the 
aforementioned  characteristics  are  transmitted  in  a  remarkable 
degree  by  certain  individuals. 

The  qualities  transmitted  vary.  That  is,  a  bird  may  be  pre- 
potent in  certain  characters  and  fail  to  transmit  others.  One 
bird  might  transmit  its  constitutional  vigor,  or  the  shape  of 
comb  only,  while  some  birds  impress  their  characteristics  so 
generally  and  perfectly  upon  their  offspring  that  we  note  a  gen- 
eral resemblance  to  the  parent  of  the  same  sex.  It  is  not  uncom- 
mon for  an  individual  of  wonderful  constitution  and  vigor  to 
throw  several  offspring  bearing  a  striking  resemblance  to  the 
parent  in  a  single  season. 

The  Value  of  Prepotency — The  value  of  prepotency  can 
hardly  be  overestimated.  When  that  quality  is  possessed  by  a 
female  of  high  egg-producing  capacity,  its  worth  increases  with 
each  generation,  according  to  the  egg-producing  capacity,  and 
as  the  number  of  the  descendants  in  the  flocks  increase. 

Male  One-Half  the  Flock. — And  then,  if  the  foregoing  is  true, 
how  important  an  asset  prepotency  must  be  in  any  male  which, 
because  he  exercises  his  share  of  influence  upon  each  and  every 
female  with  which  he  mates,  is  obviously  one-half  the  flock.  If 
the  male  is  of  unusual  merit,  or  especially  if  he  possesses  more 
merit  than  the  average  of  the  females  associated  with  him,  and  if 
through  his  ability  to  transmit  his  own  characteristics  he  exer- 
cises such  an  influence  upon  the  progeny  that  he  becomes  more 
than  one-half  of  the  flock,  we  can  readily  see  the  advantage  of 
prepotency  in  such  males. 

Sex  Control  of  Characters. — Breeders  generally  prize  prepo- 
tency in  a  male.  Ample  explanation  has  been  offered  by  pointing- 
out  how  the  male  is  one-half  the  flock.  There  is,  too,  the  grow- 
ing belief  that  the  male  is  responsible  for  certain  qualities,  but 
opinions  as  to  just  which  ones  differ  materially.  Some  think  the 
male  has  most  influence  upon  color  and  head  points,  while  the 
female  controls  the  shape  of  body,  etc.  But  it  must  be  admitted 
that  no  tangible  proof  of  these  various  opinions  can  be  secured. 

Constitutional  Vigor. — That  constitutional  vigor  is  a  vital 
factor   in  all   branches  of  poultry   husbandry   will   undoubtedly 


00  A.i//;/.*/r  I A  I'oi  i/rin    \ss<>rnri(>\ 

have  been  inferred  from  several  of  the  foregoing  passages.  The 
necessity  of  that  quaHty  clescril)ed  by  such  terms  as  health,  vigor, 
stamina,  hardiness,  ruggedness  and  several  more,  perhaps,  is  so 
generally  understood  and  recognized  that  it  requires  little  more 
than  passing  notice  here. 

It  is  also  thoroughly  understood  that  this  quality  is  just  as 
vitally  essential  in  the  yards  of  the  most  exclusive  fancier,  who 
rears  but  a  few  choice  ])irds  each  season,  as  on  the  farm  of  the 
commercial  breeder  who  raises  his  flock  for  the  number  of  eggs 
it  i)roduces  or  the  number  of  pounds  of  flesh  ;  the  first  cannot 
perpetuate  his  flock  to  reincarnate  the  ideals  of  his  dreams,  the 
second  cannot  produce  the  eggs  or  the  pounds  of  flesh  without 
fowls  of  rugged  constitutions,  which  must  prevail  in  the  stock. 
To  maintain  health  in  a  flock  and  to  hatch  chicks  that  inherit  a 
strong  vital  force,  weak  birds  must  not  be  admitted  to  the  breed- 
ing yards.  That  is,  to  maintain  constitutional  vigor  in  your 
flock,  select  as  breeders  those  birds  that  possess  that  essential 
quality. 

The  strongest  constitutions  may  be  undermined  by  injudi- 
cious feeding,  by  undue  exposures,  poor  sanitation  and  poor  man- 
agement generally.  These  are  topics  taken  up  in  a  later  chapter 
in  this  work. 


PART  III. 
STANDARD  BRED  PLYMOUTH  ROCKS 

SECTION  I 


Chapter  I: 
Chapter  II: 
Chapter  III: 
Chapter  IV: 
Chapter  V: 


Chapter  I: 
Chapter  II: 
Chapter  III: 


Chapter  I: 
Chapter  II: 
Chapter  III: 


Chapter  I: 
Chapter  II: 
Chapter  III: 
Chapter  IV: 


Chapter  I: 
Chapter  II: 
Chapter  III: 
Chapter  IV: 
Chapter  V: 


Chapter  I: 
Chapter  II: 
Chapter  III: 


Chapter  I: 
Chapter  II: 
Chapter  III: 


PLYMOUTH  ROCKS 
General  Description  of  Plymouth  Rocks — All  Varieties. 
Origin  and  Early  Development. 
Standard  Requirements  for  Shape  of  All  Varieties. 
Common  Defects  of  Plymouth  Rock  Shape. 
Mating  to  Overcome  Defects  in  Shape. 

SECTION  II 

BARRED   PLYMOUTH  ROCKS 

Barred  Plymouth  Rock  Plumage. 
Matings  to  Produce  Exhihition  Males. 
Matings  to  Produce  Exhibition  Females. 

SECTION  III 

WHITE  PLYMOUTH  ROCKS 
Origin  and  Early  Development. 
White  Plymouth  Rock  Plumage. 
Mating  White  Plymouth  Rocks. 

SECTION  IV 
BUFF  PLYMOUTH  ROCKS 

Origin  and  Early  Development. 
Buff  Plymouth  Rock  Plumage. 
Mating  for  Buff  Color. 
Matings. 

SECTION  V 

SILVER-PENCILED  PLYMOUTH  ROCKS 
Origin  and  Early  Development. 
Description  of  Silver-Penciled  Plymouth  Rocks. 
Silver-Penciled  Plymouth  Rock  Plumage. 
Mating  Silver-Penciled  Plymouth  Rocks. 
Plumage  Defects  and  How  to  Overcome  Them. 

SECTION  VI 
PARTRIDGE  PLYMOUTH  ROCKS 

Origin  and  Early  Development. 
Partridge   P  ymouth  Rock  Plumage. 
Mating  Partridge   Plymouth  Rocks. 

SECTION   VII 

COLUMBIAN  PLYMOUTH  ROCKS 

Origin  and  Early  Development. 
Columbian  Plymouth  Rock  Plumage. 
Mating   Columbian   Plymouth  Rocks. 


<U 


(52  ll//;A'/ri\    I'ol  //lin     iNNorv  177(>,V 

SECTION     I  . 
CHAPTER  I. 

PLYMOUTH  ROCKS. 

PLYMC  )UTH  ROCKS  are  classified  as  "general  purpose 
fowls."  The  pioneer  variety,  the  Barred  Plymouth  Rock, 
then  called  Plymouth  Rock,  was  first  exhibited  in  1869  at 
Worcester,  Mass.  They  are  a  composite  of  several  different 
blood  lines,  the  first  and  most  prominent  of  which  were  the 
Black  Cochin  and  Dominique. 

In  size  the  Plymouth  Rock  is  intermediate  between  the 
Asiatic  and  Mediterranean  Ijreeds,  the  most  typical  and  useful 
specimens  being  those  which  are  nearest  to  Standard  weights. 

The  six  varieties  are  identical  except  in  color.  The  color 
of  the  Barred  variety  is  exceedingly  difficult  to  describe ;  in 
fact,  the  true  and  exact  shade  can  be  learned  only  by  ob- 
servation; the  colors  should  be  modified  black  and  white  in  all 
sections,  each  feather  crossed  by  regular,  narrow,  parallel, 
sharply  defined  dark  bars  that  stop  short  of  positive  black ; 
the  overlapping  of  the  feathers  producing  a  bluish  tinge  when 
viewed  under  certain  light  reflections. 

The  White  variety — plumage  pure  white,  as  the  name  indi- 
cates— should  be  free  from  creaminess  and  brassiness.  The 
combination  of  pure  white  plumage  with  bright  red  comb,  face, 
wattles  and  ear-lobes,  and  yellow  legs  and  beak  is  both  desirable 
and  obtainable. 

The  color  of  plumage  of  the  Buff  variety  should  be  a  rich 
golden-bufif,  free  from  shafting  or  mealy  appearance,  while  ex- 
tremes of  light  and  dark  shades  should  be  avoided,  and  a  har- 
monious blending  of  buff  in  all  sections  is  most  desired. 

The  contrast  of  black  with  white  in  males  and  with  steel- 
gray  in  females  will  attract  many  to  the  Silver  Penciled  variety. 
The  exquisite  penciling  with  the  rich  plumage  and  mahogany 
surface  of  the  Partridge  female  and  the  brilliant  red  and  green- 
ish-black plumage  of  the  male,  give  the  breeders  of  this  variety 
an  opportunity  of  testing  their  skill  in  mating  that  is  equaled  in 
but  few  varieties  of  Standard  fowls.  The  Columbians  with 
their  white  breasts,  backs  and  wing  bows  sharply  contrasting 
with  the  black  markings  of  necks  and  tails,  jiresent  also  an  at- 
tractive color  scheme. 


PLYMOUTH  ROVK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  c:'. 

CHAPTER  II. 

THE  ORIGIN  AND  DEVELOPMENT 

A  popularity  among  the  masses  of  poultry  keepers  that  is  as 
wonderful  as  it  is  universal  places  the  Plymouth  Rock  foremost, 
and  makes  it  preeminent  as  a  breed  in  the  poultry  world.  A 
popularity — questioned  by  none  and  admitted  by  all — is  not  the 
result  of  a  mere  freak  of  public  fancy.  Growing  steadily  in 
favor  as  these  fowls  have  for  over  fifty  years,  this  popularity 
cannot  be  said  to  be  the  outcome  of  the  prearranged  plans  or 
systematic  efforts  of  any  man  or  body  of  men.  It  has  its  founda- 
tion on  merit,  but  it  is  not  solely  because  these  fowls  are  money 
makers  in  the  several  phases  of  commercial  traffic  that  they 
enjoy  the  highest  favors  with  all  classes  of  poultrymen.  Be- 
cause the  structure  was  well  planned,  and  the  improvements 
well  considered  and  judicious,  these  fowls  are  today  profitable 
as  egg-producers,  as  broilers,  as  roasters,  as  the  all-purpose  fowls, 
and  for  those  who  succeed  in  producing  the  best  type  and  plum- 
age, as  fancy  fowls.  To  these  qualities  must  be  added  their 
rugged  constitutions,  mild  dispositions  and  their  adaptability  to 
confinement  and  domestication. 

As  fancy  fowls  their  popularity  is  no  doubt  due  to  the 
peculiarly  regular  and  systematic  markings  or  the  pure  colors  of 
their  plumage,  intensified  by  the  difficulty  in  producing  the  same 
to  any  degree  approximating  perfection.  Failing  to  accomplish 
this  the  breeder  has  always  the  market  qualities  to  rely  upon. 

All  these  things  and  more  have  contributed  to  the  popularity 
of  the  Plymouth  Rocks,  but  acknowledged  facts  do  not  interest 
us.  Our  interest  seeks  to  discover  the  foundation  of  these  quali- 
ties, so  fortunately  combined ;  what  combinations  of  blood,  what 
conditions,  what  circumstances  contributed  to  the  development 
of  a  fowl  suited  to  all.  The  explanation  is  l^est  given  in  the  his- 
tory of  its  ancestry.  We  shall  see  as  we  trace  the  development 
of  this  fowl,  the  source  of  its  rugged  constitution,  the  reason  for 
the  good  laying  qualities,  and  account,  we  hope,  in  a  measure  at 
least,  for  the  approaching  ])erfection  of  ])lumage. 

The  first  real  interest  in  pure-bred  fowls  in  America,  of  which 
we  have  any  account,  appeared  in  New  England  about  the  middle 
of  the  last  century.  At  that  time  all  pure-bred  fowls  were  either 
of  Asiatic  or  F.uropean  origin. 


G4  .1.1/ /•;///( 'J  A    ]'(>!  l/riy'Y   ASSOCIA'I'IOS 

The  Popularity  of  the  Asiatic  Fowls. — The  former,  on  ac- 
count of  their  size,  which  in  comparison  with  that  of  the  com- 
mon farm  yard  fowls  of  those  days  or  in  comparison  with  that 
of  fowls  of  European  blood,  appeared  gigantic,  and  their  mag- 
nificent appearance,  were  extremely  popular.  At  times  this  pop- 
ularity was  even  sensational,  and  it  may  be  said  that  fowls  of 
Asiatic  blood  were  relied  upon  to  supply  the  sensational  features 
for  the  early  poultry  shows — the  first  at  Boston  in  1849,  the 
several  subsequent  shows  in  the  same  city,  as  well  as  the  one  held 
in  Barnum's  Museum  in  1854.  For  years  these  Asiatic  fowls 
were  the  most  sought  and  brought  the  highest  prices  ;  l)ut  even 
at  that  they  did  not  afford  general  satisfaction. 

This  Popularity  Wanes. — They  were  large,  but  it  recpiired 
a  greater  length  of  time  to  grow  a  large  fowl  to  maturity  than  a 
small  one.  It  recjuired  too  long  a  time  to  grow  these  extremely 
large  specimens.  They  did  not  lay  as  well  for  most  poultry 
keepers  as  the  smaller  birds.  Mediterranean  breeds  had  been 
imported  from  Italy,  Spain  and  England  and  these  were  acknowl- 
edged the  superior  of  all  others  as  "egg-machines."  Compared 
with  the  Asiatic  or  even  most  of  the  mongrel  stock,  these  were 
very  snrall  and  fell  materially  short  of  the  weight  desired  of  a 
good  market  fowl. 

A  General  Purpose  Fowl  Demanded. — The  failures  of  these 
different  classes  of  fowls  to  meet  l)oth  recjuirements  became  more 
and  more  apparent  as  time  elapsed,  and  the  more  apparent  the 
failures  became  the  stronger  became  the  desire  to  find  or  create 
a  fowl  that,  while  it  could  be  depended  upon  for  a  liberal  produc- 
tion of  eggs,  would  also  meet  the  demands  for  a  superior  talile 
fowl.  Many  attem])ts  were  made  before  success  was  achieved. 
Some  dated  back  i)rior  to  the  middle  of  the  century.  Of  these 
we  have  the  best  account  of  one  by  a  Dr.  Bennett  of  Plymouth. 
Massachusetts,  of  which  we  find  a  very  good  description  in  The 
Poultry  Book  (1850),  of  which  the  same  Dr.  Bennett  was  the 
author. 

"THE    PLYMOUTH    ROCK    FOWL" 

'T  have  given  this  name  to  a  very  extra  breed  of  fowls  which 
I  produced  by  crossing  a  cockerel  of  Baylies'  importation  of 
Cochin  China  with  a  hen,  a  cross  between  the  fawn-colored 
Dorking,  the  Great  Malay  and  the  Wild  Indian ;  having  five 
primitive  bloods— Shanghae,  Malay,  Game,  Turkish  and  Indian 
—traceable  by  referring  to  the  history  of  those  breeds  and  their 
crosses    respectively.      There    are     several     of     tliis     breed     in 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  aS'7'.I A'7)A7?D  AND  BREED  BOOK 


65 


Plymouth,  from  my  original  stock,  belonging  to  Messrs.  John 
H.  Harlow,  Samuel  Shaw  and  myself,  that  are  now  a  little  over 
one  year  old ;  the  cockerels  measure  from  thirty-two  to  thirty- 
five  inches  high  and  weigh  about  ten  pounds,  and  the  pullets 
from  six  and  a  half  to  seven  pounds  each ;  forming,  in  my 
opinion,  the  best  cross  that  has  ever  been  produced. 

"The  pullets  commenced  laying  when  five  months  old,  prov- 
ing themselves  very  superior  layers.  Their  eggs  are  of  a  medium 
size,  rich  and  reddish-yellow  in  color.  Their  plumage  is  rich 
and  variegated ;  the  cocks,  usually  red  or  speckled,  and  the 
pullets  darkish  brown.  They  are  very  fine  fleshed  and  early  fit 
for  the  table.  Their  legs  are  very  large  and  usually  blue  or 
green,  but  occasionally  yellow  or  white,  generally  having  five 
toes  upon  each  foot.     Some  have  their  legs  feathered,  but  this 


One  of  the  earliest  pictures  published  of  the  American  Plymouth  Rock, 
appearing  in  Rural  New  Yorker,  1872,  and  in  Stoddard's  Poultry  World. 
1873.  [Observe  darker  plumage  of  the  neck  feathers  and  coarseness  of  bar- 
ring in  the  larger  feathers,  combs  irregular  and  serrations  very  numer- 
ous, tail  feathers  of  the  male  are  represented  as  being  blown  by  the 
wind.] 


MHUK'W    /'(H  l/rin    ASSOC!  \'l/()\ 


IS  not  usual 
lars^e  cheek; 
to  their  1)0(I 


Th.ev   have   hirge  and 
rathier   short   tails  and 


■single   conil 
unall   wino-; 


V  and   wattles, 
in   proportion 


From  the  following  paragraph  it  seems  that  Mr.  (i.  P.  Burn- 
ham  secured  some  of  the  fowls  from  the  Doctor,  which  is  (juite 
likely,  as  it  appears  from  the  writings  of  Mr.  Burnham  that  he 
and  the  Doctor,  as  he  alludes  to  him,  were  very  friendly.  In  a 
letter  to  the  Massachusetts  Ploughman,  Mr.  Burnham  describes 
them  as  follows : 

"The  cock  here  re[)resented  weighs  nine  pounds  and  a  (piar- 
ter,  and  the  two  pullets  thirteen  pounds.  The  stock  came  from 
Dr.  Bennett  and  I  am  daily  more  and  more  pleased  with  this  fine 
species.  I  have  the  'Plymouth  Rocks'  at  all  ages  now — from  a 
few  days  up  to  about  eight  months  old  ;  and  my  specimens  eni- 


Halftone  reproduction  of  a  colored  lithograph  ol"  Plymouth  Rocks  by 
Porter  in  Stoddard's  Poultry  World.  1879.  This  shape  was  popular  dur- 
ing the  80's  and  was  copied  to  represent  birds  of  that  period.  It  shows 
a  substantial  and  rugged  type.  This  pair  represent  a  larger,  heavier  type, 
with  color  of  plumage  and  shape  of  comlis  considerably  improved  over 
those  of  tlie  pair  published  in  Poultry  World,  1S7.3. 


I'LYMOl  'III   h'OCK  S'l'.WnAh'l)  AM)   lilfHHI)   HOOK  CT 

brace  five  or  six  different  broods.  The  color  of  all  of  them  is 
peculiarly  uniform  and  I  am  satisfied  that  the  variety  (or  l)reed) 
is  now  well  established.  The  body  plumage  on  the  pullets  is  a 
rich  deep  brown,  speckled  with  golden-tipt  feathers ;  the  under 
down  is  black  (or  a  deep  blue-black),  and  the  tail  is  brown,  black 
and  gold. 

"The  legs  of  the  pullets  are  very  dark  colored,  and  one-half 
of  them  or  more,  are  five  toed ;  but  some  of  them  do  not  come 
so.  The  comb  is  single,  and  the  wattles  thin  and  small.  The 
head  and  neck  are  well  formed,  the  legs  are  shorter  than  the 
average  of  fowls,  and  the  hens  are  not  only  deep  and  broad- 
chested,  but  the  bodies  are  proportionately  very  long,  as  you 
will  observe  in  the  drawing. 

"The  roosters  are  noble  birds — among  the  finest  I  have  ever 
met  with.  The  plumage  of  the  roosters  is  dark  red  hackles  on 
neck  and  rump  ;  the  legs  are  bright  yellow,  slightly  feathered  ; 
the  body,  dark  red  and  green  relieved  with  stray  feathers  of  a 
golden  tint ;  and  the  under  portion  of  the  body  and  breast  is  a 
rich,  deep,  glossy  blue-black — partaking  of  the  plumage  of  the 
Wild  Indian  fowl,  the  original  cross.  The  tail-plumes  on  the 
above  crower  are  not  grown  out  as  yet.  of  course,  nor  does  he 
yet  show  any  spur;  but  he  is  pictured  exactly  as  he  is  at  this 
time,  after  his  first  moult.  When  he  is  in  full  phuuage  the  tail 
feathers  are  heavy  and  give  the  male  bird  not  only  a  nnich 
larger  proportionate  appearance,  but  very  greatly  improve  his 
form." 

Mr.  John  (jiles  of  Providence.  R.  I.,  a  prominent  poultry 
fancier  and  importer  of  those  times,  writes:  "The  'Rocks'  are  a 
splendid  bird,  and  if  their  table  qualities  prove  to  be  good,  will 
make  a  valuable  ])reed  of  fowls."  Again  in  the  same  letter  he 
says:  "On  more  close  examination  of  the  'Rock'  chick.  I  am 
more  confirmed  that  they  must  prove  an  invaluable  breed.  Could 
you  not  cross  so  as  to  have  one  distinct  color  of  leg  and  plum- 
age?" 

( )ther  descriptions  and  testimonials  follow.  These  fowls  are 
commended  for  their  laying  qualities  as  well  as  for  their  uni- 
formity of  appearance. 

Did  the  First  Plymouth  Rock  Become  Extinct?  —  Neither 
from  these  descriptions  nor  from  the  accompanying  illustrations 
could  one  agree  with  the  deductions  of  Harrison  Weir,  the  noted 
English  artist  and  author,  in  his  work,  "The  Poultry  Book," 
London,   1871,  though  the  logic  is  very  j)lausible  at  a  distance. 


68  AMEliK  'A  A    PO  (  1/1  R  i '  .1 SSOCIATION 

"Now  it  is  both  curious  and  very  extraordinary,  to  say  the 
least  of  it,  that  Mr.  Spaulding  should  adopt  for  his  breed  the 
cognomen  of  that  of  Dr.  Bennett's  and  Mr.  (i.  P.  Burnham's 
new  variety,  and  which,  according  to  the  portraits  in  Bennett's 
book,  so  much  resemble  in  shape  the  New  Plymouth  Rock ;  and, 
further,  it  is  not  so  clear  that  those  of  Dr.  Bennett  had  really 
disappeared,  for  in  the  last  paragraph  in  'the  Doctor's'  book 
regarding  them,  Mr.  John  Giles  distinctly  states  that :  '1  shall 
endeavor  hereafter  to  produce  them  with  uniform  plumage,  pre- 
ferring the  dark  colour,  dark  legs  and  four  toes  only.'  To  me  the 
name  thus  given  to  a  new  breed,  being  one  belonging  to  another, 
is  very  unsatisfactory,  nor  does  the  after  variations  of  the  Barred 
Plymouth  Rock,  borne  out  in  the  progeny,  accord  with  this 
asserted  origin ;  nor  is  it  likely  but  that  the  name  had  some 
notoriety,  or  why  adopted  if  it  was  so  indifferent  as  to  ha\e 
become  extinct?" 

One  could  hardly  imagine  that  a  possibility  of  developing  a 
fowl  of  the  type  and  plumage  of  the  modern  Plymouth  Rocks 
from  the  crosses  named  by  Dr.  Bennett  exists.  Upon  this  ques- 
tion Mr.  Weir  seems  the  only  exponent  of  this  theory  of  the 
origin  for  the  Plymouth  Rock  of  the  present  day.  All  writers 
during  the  intermediate  period,  even  the  Doctor's  friend.  Burn- 
ham,  seem  to  repudiate  such  a  theory. 

Mr.  F.  H.  Ayer  in  his  pamphlet  (1878),  after  describing  the 
Bennett  Plymouth  Rocks  goes  on  to  state:  "The  modern  IMyni- 
outh  Rock  is  quite  a  different  fowl  from  the  one  we  have  just 
described  and  was  produced  from  different  stock  though,  as  is 
too  well  known  to  need  comment,  it  is  a  cross-bred." 

Stoddard  in  The  Plymouth  Rocks  (1880)  writes:  "Whatever 
their  excellencies,  the  incipient  breed  ran  out  completely,  or  ran 
into  anything  or  everything  by  admixture  with  adverse  breeds, 
and  for  years  no  Plymouth  Rocks  existed.  Then  came  another 
fowl  of  entirely  new  blood  and  finding  the  name  ready-made 
but  the  fowl  it  used  to  represent  extinct,  accepted  it  as  the  title 
best  suited  to  its  solid  merits.  At  this  point  the  old  line  Rocks 
disappear;  henceforth  the  title  'Plymouth  Rock'  means  the  fowl 
of  today." 

Exactly  the  same  views  are  taken  by  Corbin  n  1879,  Bishop 
in  1880,  Wallace  in  1888  and  many  others.  The  periodicals  of 
that  time,  however,  show  that  the  new  breed  was  quite  widely 
distributed  and  received  its  full  share  of  publicity.  Though 
they  failed  to  establish  themselves  and  lacked  uniformity  and  a 
positive  pattern  in  plumage,  such  was  the  call  for  a  fowl  that 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  HTAXDAh'D  AM)   lllii:i:n  HOOK  (',!> 

combined  prolific  egg  producing  and  good  market  qualities  that 
until  they  proved  themselves,  as  Stoddard  says  they  were,  incip- 
ient fowls,  they  were  eagerly  sought. 

Efforts  to   Establish  a  General   Purpose   Fowl   Continue. — 

Then  for  some  time  no  Plymouth  Rocks  existed.  But  we  have 
reason  to  believe  that  efiforts  to  establish  a  fowl  of  the  general 
purpose  type  continued.  It  was  not  a  difficult  matter,  however, 
to  combine  opposite  types  and  decidedly  dissimilar  patterns,  but 
it  proved  to  be  a  very  difficult  problem  to  breed  the  desired  qual- 
ities together  and  make  the  breeding  hold  any  definite  type  or 
color  pattern.  No  blood  seemed  to  amalgamate  with  that  of  the 
Asiatic  which  was  invariably  the  basis  of  these  crosses.  At  last, 
however,  blood  sufficiently  strong  to  hold  its  own  with  the  here- 
tofore dominant  Asiatic  blood  was  mixed  with  it.  The  result 
was  most  gratifying.  Strange  to  say,  this  new  blood —  that  is, 
new  in  the  sense  of  being  untried — was  the  fowl  of  native  devel- 
opment, of  unknown  origin  and  commonly  kept  on  the  farms  and 
in  the  back  yards  of  New  England. 

ORIGIN    OF    THE    MODERN    PLYMOUTH    ROCK 

By  common  consent  the  cross  that  originated  the  Plymouth 
Rock  was  made  in  the  yards  of  Joseph  Spaulding  of  Putnam, 
Connecticut.  A  few  of  the  progeny  of  the  first  cross  were  sold 
to  D.  A.  Upham  of  Wilsonville  of  the  same  State  who,  after 
breeding  them  but  a  few  seasons,  perhaps  no  more  than  two,  was 
the  first  to  present  them  to  the  public.  Plymouth  Rocks  as  exhi- 
bition fowls  made  their  first  appearance  at  Worcester,  Massa- 
chusetts, in  March,  1869.  The  above  facts  are  not  seriously  dis- 
puted, if  disputed  at  all,  nor  have  they  been  to  the  writer's  recol- 
lection, which  extends  back  to  the  early  80's. 

It  would  hardly  seem  that  a  more  competent  or  trustworthy 
source  of  information  as  to  the  origin  of  this  new  race  would  be 
found  than  the  same  Mr.  Upham  who  first  brought  them  to  the 
public's  attention  and  but  a  few  years  after  the  original  cross 
to  establish  them  was  made. 

Mr.  Upham's  Account. — Mr.  Upham  tells  this  story  in  the 
Poultry  World  (1876),  only  seven  years  after  he  first  exhibited 
Plymouth  Rocks  and  but  ten  or  eleven  years  after  the  original 
Spaulding  cross  was  made.  This  account,  as  related  at  that 
time,  we  are  glad  to  reprint : 

"Nearly  ten  years  ago  we  bred,  named  and  introduced  the 
first  fowls  and  chicks  of  t-is  variety  ever  shown  to  the  public 


70  .l.l//;A'/fM  \    /'Ol  l//Uy  ASSOCI  \TI()\ 

and  they  were  produced  first  by  a  cross  between  a  common  hawk- 
colored  (so-called)  single  comb  Dung-hill  cock,  with  i)ure  l)lack 
Cochin  hens,  not  Java  hens  (which  invariably  have  smooth  legs, 
entirely  free  from  feathers).  From  this  cross  a  large  majority 
of  the  progeny  were  cockerels,  very  large  and  fine  symmetrical 
birds,  many  of  them  of  the  same  plumage  as  their  sire,  some 
with  legs  hea\-ily  feathered,  a  few  with  legs  entirely  free  from 
feathers. 

"The  pullets,  a  large  percentage,  were  l)lack,  legs  heavily 
feathered,  a  few  were  very  handsomely  marked,  black  and  white, 
with  legs  entirely  free  from  feathers,  others'  legs  slightly 
feathered. 

"In  the  Fall  of  1866  my  attention  was  called  to  these  chicks 
by  a  friend,  and  we  started  to  see  them,  and  found  them  in  the 
yards  of  one  Mr.  Spaulding,  who  then  lived  in  Putnam,  Connec- 
ticut. Mr.  Spaulding  bred  fowls  for  market  purposes  only,  and 
was  noted  for  producing  the  very  best  early  and  late  chicks  of 
any  farmer  around,  always  obtaining  higher  prices  than  his 
neighbors  for  his  choice  poultry.  We  selected  and  purchased  a 
cockerel  and  two  pullets,  which  had  clean,  yellow  legs  and  of  the 
desired  plumage  we  wished  to  produce,  and  bred  them.  About 
one-half  of  their  chicks  were  of  the  desired  plumage.  I  then 
selected  the  best  pullets  and  1)red  them  to  a  cock  of  my  own 
raising,  of  the  same  plumage,  a  descendant  from  stock  which 
originated  from  eggs  purchased  of  G.  P.  Burnham,  about  twenty- 
five  years  ago,  said  to  be  Brahma  Pootras,  or  what  some  fanciers 
called  Gray  Chittagongs  in  those  days,  which  were  very  large, 
noble  fowls ;  but  with  me  this  variety  was  crossed  with  Cochins 
and  English  Gray  Dorkings,  but  the  cockerels  always  retained 
the  original  steel-gray  plumage. 

"The  second  cross  from  this  strain  produced  very  satisfac- 
tory results.  Most  of  their  chicks  were  of  the  desired  color  in 
both  sexes ;  very  few  black,  and  most  of  them  with  legs  free 
from  feathers,  and  bright  yellow  in  color.  From  this  cross  I 
have  selected  and  bred  from  the  very  best  specimens,  and  by 
judicious  mating  have,  for  the  past  three  years,  succeeded  in 
breeding  them  as  true  to  feather  and  points,  and  a  greater  num- 
ber of  fine  exhibition  birds  from  a  clutch  of  eggs,  than  from  any 
other  variety  we  ever  bred.  They- are  now  very  large,  fine  in 
shape,  and  very  handsome  plumaged  birds.  They  fledge  quite 
young,  grow  rapidly,  mature  earlier  than  any  other  fowl  of  their 
size,  are  very  hardy  and  easy  to  rear,  and  for  early  marketing- 
there  is  no  breed  to  be  compared  with  them  ;  are  fully  equal  to 


I'LYMoi  'I'll  i,-<)('i\  N7' I A />  I /.'/>   \\i)  nin:i:n  hook  ti 

the  Brahnias  as  Winter  and  sujierior  as  Summer  layers,  not  fre- 
quent sitters,  excellent  mothers,  great  foragers  and  are  truly  the 
farmer's  fowl.  Matured  weights,  on  an  average,  from  twenty- 
five  to  thirty  pounds  the  trio.  Extra  fine  specimens  have  been 
known  to  reach  thirty-two  pounds. 

"This,  in  sliort,  is  the  true  origin  and  general  characteristics 
of  the  genuine  I'lymouth  Rocks  of  today." 

Vital  Points  in  the  Upham  Account, — We  gather  from  this 
extract  several  facts  of  which  we  are  glad  to  have  knowledge. 
First,  it  sets  the  date  very  close  to  the  one  generally  accepted 
by  interested  fanciers  and  breeders.  "Nearly  ten  years  ago  we 
bred,  named  and  introduced  the  first  fowls  and  chicks  of  this 
variety  ever  shown  to  the  public  .  .  .  ."  W'riting  this  in 
1876  would  make  these  statements  coincide  with  other  relialile 
data  on  this  point.  Note  in  this  connection  the  statement  begin- 
ning: "In  the  Fall  of  1866."  This,  then,  is  the  date  and  the  Fall 
is  the  season  when  Mr.  Upham  produced  his  foundation  stock. 
It  is  certain  that  he  did  nothing  in  the  line  of  breeding  or  rearing 
during  1866  because  of  the  lateness  of  the  season.  "We  selected 
and  ])urchase(l  .  .  .  and  bred  them."  This  accounts  for  the 
season  of  1867,  but  Mr.  Upham  states  further:  "We  then  selected 
the  best  pullets  and  l)red  them  to  a  cock  of  my  own  raising 
."  "The  second  cross  from  this  strain  produced  satisfac- 
tory results.  .  .  ."  If  it  was  at  this  point  that  Mr.  Upham 
selected  the  specimen  for  the  first  puljlic  appearance  of  the  Plym- 
outh Rock,  and  it  is  certainly  not  unreasonable  to  presume  that 
it  was,  because  to  quote  his  own  language,  "most  of  their  chicks 
were  of  the  desired  color  in  both  sexes ;  very  few  black,  and  most 
of  them  with  legs  free  from  feathers,  and  bright  yellow  in  color," 
and  birds  that  bear  such  a  description  would  seem  to  be  fair 
show  si)ecimens,  especially  during  the  formative  stage  in  a  breed. 
March,  1869,  as  the  date  of  the  first  appearance,  coincides  with 
the  facts  as  stated  in  the  abstract,  as  chicks  shown  as  early  as 
March,  1869,  must  have  been  reared  in  1868,  which  coincides 
chronologically  with  the  above  statements.  W^e  must  not  over- 
look the  statement  which,  on  account  of  the  controversy  it  has 
occasioned,  is  the  most  pertinent,  vital  and  hence  the  most  inter- 
esting of  all  the  facts  presented,  that  they  were  produced  first 
by  a  cross  between  a  large  common  Inawk-colored  (so-called) 
single  comb  Dunghill  cock,  with  pure  black  Cochin  hens,  not 
Java  hens  (which  invariably  have  smooth  legs,  entirely  free 
from  feathers),  as  this  statement  involves  the  j)oint  of  a  contro- 


71>  AMi:h'l('A\  ]'(>!  l/riiV  ASSOC!  \'rio\ 

versy  that  was  kept  alive  for  years,  and  though  the  fire  of  debate 
smoulders,  it  rekindles  occasionally  and  burns  freely  for  the  time 
being-. 

The  Ramsdell  Account. — The  other  side  of  the  controversy 
rested  upon  the  statement  made  in  an  article  by  H.  S.  Ramsdell 
of  Connecticut,  j)ublished  in  the  Poultry  and  Pet  Stock  Bulletin 
of  March,  1873.  in  which  is  found  the  following: 

"Our  modern  Plymouth  Rock  fowl  is  in  no  way  whatever 
connected  with  the  Plymouth  Rock  produced  by  Dr.  Bennett 
some  twenty-five  years  since,  from  a  cross  with  the  Asiatic  fowls. 
None  of  these  bloods  enter  into  the  composition  of  the  present 
stock.  They  are  a  different  bird  altogether,  and  were  produced 
on  the  farm  of  the  late  Joseph  Spaulding  of  Putnam.  Connecticut, 
which  is  situated  about  one  mile  from  my  own.     I  was  intimately 

acquainted  with  the  Mr.  S while  he  lived,  and  I  was  thus 

given  an  opportunity  of  knowing  the  facts  of  which  I  speak. 

"Some  thirty  years  since,  John  Giles.  Esq.  (well  known  to 
the  poultry  world),  introduced  a  fowl  into  this  vicinity  called  the 
Black  Java  ;   its  plumage  was  black  and  glossy,  its  size  large 

(Mr.   G said   the   pullets   had   sometimes   reached    eleven 

pounds),  they  were  an  unusually  hardy  bird,  with  a  dark,  slate- 
colored  smooth  leg,  and  the  bottom  of  the  foot  yellow.  They 
proved  good  layers  and  of  extra  quality  for  the  table ;  not  coarse 
like  most  of  the  large-sized  birds,  but  fine  and  juicy.  I  sold  a 
few  of  these  birds  to  a  Mr.  Thayer,  of  Pomfret,  of  whom  Mr. 
George  Clark  of  Woodstock,  Connecticut,  purchased  some — he 
supposed  the  same.  Mr.  Clark  passing  Mr.  Spaulding's  yard  one 
day,  noticed  his  fine  flock  of  Dominiques  and  proposed  bringing 
a  few  of  his  Javas  to  cross  with  them,  to  increase  the  size.     Mr. 

S accepted  the  offer  and  when  the  chickens  were  grown 

rejected  the  black  ones,  and  those  with  double  comb,  reserving 
to  breed  from  only  the  single-comb  birds  which  retained  the 
Dominique  color  or  near  it.  They  were  usually  darker  of  plum- 
age than  the  Dominique,  the  legs  sometimes  resembled  the  Java 
— dark  with  yellow  feet — but  were  mostly  yellow,  or  yellow  with 
a  slight  streak  of  dark  -".n  the  front  of  the  leg,  which  with  the 
feet  are  free  from  feathers.    We  received  some  eggs  of  this  cross 

from  Mr.  S as  a  present,  and  purchased  some  fowls  of  him. 

Of  the  first  produce,  one  hen  weighed  over  eight  i)uunds,  and 
another  reached  nine  pounds  and  three-quarters.  We  soon  had 
a  fine  flock  of  them.     The  fowls  were  spread  around  the  neigh- 


I'LYMOI  Til  /I'or/v'  ,S'7M\7>. !/.'/>    1A7)  Uh'EEh  HOOK  T.\ 

borhood  and  were  much  sought  after,  but  had,  as  yet,  no  name. 
A  gentleman  asked  me  what  I  called  them.  Not  knowing  that 
any  of  the  Bennetts  w^ere  now  in  existence — I  had  not  seen  any 
of  them  for  years — I  said,  'Plymouth  Rocks.'  The  name  passed 
from  one  to  another  and  they  were  soon  generally  known  by 
that  name.  Our  opinion  of  the  fowl  is  that  when  bred  pure,  as 
it  came  from  the  hands  of  Mr.  Spaulding,  it  has  few  equals  and 
no  superiors.  True,  they  will  now  and  then  throw  a  black  chick, 
resembling  those  we  had  twenty-five  or  thirty  years  since,  but 
we  find  they  grow  fewer  each  year  and  doubtless  will  soon  dis- 
api)ear  altogether." 

This  article  coincides  in  names  and  circumstances  with  Mr. 
Upham's  verbal  account  given  the  writer  in  the  Summer  of  1890. 
except  that  Mr.  Upham  insisted  that  the  black  Asiatic  was  a 
Black  Cochin  and  not  a  Black  Java.  Both  agree  that  a  Java  was 
a  large,  black,  smooth  legged  fowl,  while  it  is  well  known  that  a 
Cochin  is  and  always  was  a  feather  legged  fowl. 

Views  of  the  Early  Writers. — F.  H.  Ayer  in  "The  Plymouth 
Rock."  a  pami)hlet  i)ul)lished  in  1878,  takes  the  Ramsdell  view  of 
the  Java-Cochin  controversy  in  the  following  language: 

"  'Who  shall  decide  when  doctors  disagree?  Whatever  the 
merits  of  the  Ui^ham-kamsdell  controversy  may  be.  the  question 
of  the  rival  claimants  has  long  since  settled  in  the  minds  of  all 
breeders,  and  a  review  of  their  statements  is  unnecessary.  The 
Plymouth  Rock  is  a  cross  of  Dominique  and  Java  blood,  and  this 
fact  is  of  more  importance  in  ]:)reeding  than  the  name  of  the  first 
breeder." 

F.  H.  Corbin,  in  a  i)am])hlet  entitled  "Plymouth  Rocks." 
1879.  also  accepts  the  Ramsdell  view,  or  is  inclined  to.  He 
writes : 

"The  Upham-Ramsdell  controversy  was  conducted  with  both 
vigor  and  bitterness.  The  conceded  ability  of  these  gentlemen, 
together  with  their  readiness  of  pen,  only  magnified  the  contest, 
diffused  a  knowledge  of  the  question  among  the  poultry  frater- 
nity and  caused  others  to  take  up  the  pen,  both  as  principals  and 
advocates.  After  a  time  it  began  to  be  uncertain  whether  any 
such  breed  ever  existed,  and,  if  there  w^as  any.  where  or  from 
whence  it  sprang. 

"Another  question  intensified  the  controversy.  While  all 
were  agreed  as  to  the  Plymouth  Rock  being  a  "cross"  breed, 
scarcely  any  two  were  agreed  as  to  what  the  cross  was.  The 
Black  Java,  Cochin,  Dominique,  Dunghill,  Gray  Chittagongs  and 
English   Gray   Dorkings   were  all   named   as   entering  into   the 


74  .\Mi:iii('.\\  ]'()(  i/im  Assort  \'r/()\ 

cross.     This  disputation  itself  showed  that  the  fanciers  consid- 
ered the  Plymouth  Rock  well  worthy  of  attention,  and  also  that 
it  was  advancing  with  rapid  strides  to  the  first  place  in  the  esti 
mation  of  breeders  generally. 

"As  before  intimated,  there  were  several  different  suspected 
origins  to  this  breed,  and  some  two  or  three,  perhaps,  worthy  of 
mention.  1^he  most  relial)le  one,  however,  in  the  estimation  of 
l)ree(lers  of  the  present  day,  was  the  cross  of  a  single  combed 
Dominique  cock  with  Black  |a\a  hens.  This  may  not  be 
admitted  b}-  all,  but  it  has  the  best  authority,  and  is  now  gener- 
ally acquiesced  in." 

"It  is  now  universally  admitted  that  the  Plymouth  Rock  is 
th.e  resultant  of  the  j^rocess  of  breeding  the  old-fashioned  Domi- 
niciuc — the  native  American  fowl  -on  Black  Java  hens,  a  sort 
nov\'  nearly  or  quite  unknown  in  this  country  ;  but  who  orig- 
inated this  cross  is  a  matter  of  dispute  which  i)robably  will 
ahvays  remain  in  statu  quo.  It  is  enough  for  the  breeders  to 
know  that  the  union  of  the  hawk-color  and  the  black  was  effected, 
and  few  will  care  for  purposeless  search  beyond  Drake  and 
Ramsdell  rr  Upham.  We  are  all  looking  forward  and  not  back- 
ward, and  were  the  entire  past  of  this  breed — save  the  knowledge 
of  what  the  cross  was — blotted  out,  breeders  would  be  no  way 
troubled  to  manage  their  stock  as  successfully  as  ever.  Still,  the 
history  of  the  breed  contains  much  of  interest  and  we  will  give 
briefly  the  history  of  Plymouth  Rocks — ancient  and  modern — 
before  going  into  the  discussion  of  questions  more  immediately 
aiTecting  their  treatment  in  the  present." 

Joseph  Wallace,  a  little  later,  1888,  in  "Barred  and  White 
Plymouth  Rocks."  accepts  the  view  of  others  of  a  Dominique 
and  Java  as  the  first  cross. 

As  to  the  statement  of  /Vyer,  who  seems  to  think  that  there 
are  several  claimants  for  the  honor  of  making  the  first  cross, 
and  that  Upham  is  one  of  them,  the  writer  is  in  a  position  to 
assure  all  readers  that  Upham  did  not  in  his  later  years,  if  he 
ever  did,  claim  to  have  made  the  original  cross,  but  accords  that 
honor  to  Spatilding  upon  the  suggestion  of  another. 

Corbin  rather  evades  a  discussion,  but  comes  to  a  conclusion 
without  presenting  argument  or  facts.  The  same  may  be  said 
of  all  the  others,  except  perhaps  Stoddard,  who  qualifies  by  say- 
ing that  the  Java  involved  is  not  the  Java  of  the  present  day. 


I'l.YMorrii  ROCK  sr.wDAh'i)  ,i\/>  iii{i:i:it  hook  ir> 

which  would  appear  to  be  true,  inasmuch  as  there  was  at  that 
time  no  such  thing  as  a  Standard  Java,  which  we  did  not  have 
until  1883.    The  fact  is,  Plymouth  Rocks  antedated  Javas  in  the-^ 
Standard. 

The  argument  most  often  advanced  in  favor  of  the  Java 
theory  is  that  the  Black  Cochin  was  unknown  in  America  or  at 
the  best  was  so  very  scarce  that  it  would  not  have  been  used 
in  all  probability  or  possibility.  A  writer,  himself  a  student  of 
Cochins  and  Asiatics  particularly,  makes  the  following  state- 
ment in  the  Way  15,  1901,  issue  of  the  Farm  Poultry,  published 
for  many  years  in  Boston  : 

"Black  Cochins  were  so  very  scarce  from  the  start  that  the 
few  in  existence  were  bred  with  Whites  and  Buffs  to  increase, 
improve  and  invigorate  them.  Their  original  quality  was  not  the 
equal  of  the  others.  This  cross-breeding  injured  their  color  so 
much  that  for  many  years  they  were  almost  discarded.  If  the 
English,  who  were  so  directly  in  business  communciation  with 
China,  could  not  obtain  Black  Cochins,  how  could  it  be  possible 
for  Mr.  Giles  to  import  them  ?  At  the  same  time,  what  were 
known  then  as  Black  Javas  are  mentioned  continually,  and  they 
were,  without  doubt,  what  wotild  be  called  an  Asiatic  fowl 
largely  Malay. 

"Without  any  word  from  us  we  feel  that  the  records  fully 
prove  that  the  Dominique  fowl  has  at  all  times  in  America  been 
known  as  such  (the  other  names  applied  here  have  been  errone- 
ously used)  ;  that  the  facts  show  that  the  Spaulding  or  original 
Plymouth  Rock  came  as  the  result  of  crossing  these  American 
Dominiques  with  what  is  known  as  Black  Javas." 

The  scarcity  or  non-existence  of  Black  CcK^hin  seems  to  be 
the  actual  basis  of  the  Java  theory,  though  we  find  inference 
that  Mrs.  Spaulding  was  originally  responsible  for  its  circulation. 

In  regard  to  the  references  to  the  Upham-Ramsdell  contro- 
versy and  their  rival  claims  to  priority,  the  particulars  of  which 
none  of  them  state,  the  writer  cannot  find  that  such  a  contro- 
versy exists  or  ever  has.  Neither  did  Mr.  Upham  in  his  con- 
versation with  the  writer  bring  up  the  question  of  whether  he  or 
Ramsdell  was  the  first  to  purchase  of  Spaulding.  There  is  the 
possibility,  of  course,  that  Ramsdell  purchased  first  and  another 
possibility  that  Upham  in  that  case  might  have  procured  his 
stock  of  Ramsdell.     He  savs.  however,  in  his  first  account,  here- 


70  .1  Mi'JJffVA N  j'oi  i/rnr   i N.s'or/ r/vo.v 

tofore  presented,  and  in  all  his  subsequent  accounts,  that  he 
purchased  of  Spaulding,  which  should  mean  of  Spaulding  direct. 
We  have  no  printed  or  written  statement  to  the  contrary  as  far 
as  the  author  is  aware. 

The  only  incident  known  to  the  writer  that  seems  to  indicate 
that  Mr.  Ramsdell  did  breed  Plymouth  Rocks  before  Upham 
happened  on  the  occasion  of  a  visit  by  the  writer  to  a  poultry 
show  in  Worcester,  Massachusetts,  where  he  found  the  exhibit- 
ors present  in  a  mild  state  of  excitement  over  a  visit  of  an  old 
minister  who  came  to  this  show  and  was  introduced  by  Mr. 
Upham  as  the  first  breeder  of  Plymouth  Rocks.  These  exhibitors 
all  expressed  their  regrets  that  I  should  not  have  been  there  the 
day  before,  so  as  to  meet  the  clergyman  so  distinguished.  No 
name  was  given,  but  later  inquiry  elicited  the  fact  that  it  could 
hardly  have  been  other  than  the  Rev.  H.  S.  Ramsdell.  The  exact 
date  of  this  show  cannot  be  given,  but  it  must  have  been  in  the 
early  eighties  or  about  fifteen  years  after  the  Plymouth  Rocks 
for  the  first  time  made  their  public  appearance  in  the  same  place. 

Black  Cochins  in  England. — As  to  the  existence  and  sup])ly 
of  Black  Cochins  in  England,  we  shall  have  to  rely  upon  the 
English  ])oultry  literature  of  that  period  and  for  some  time 
before : 

Martin  Doyle  in  1857  writes  of  Black  Cochins  as  being  rare 
and  of  an  instance  of  two  black  sports  from  a  pair  of  light  Buffs. 
This  states  definitely  that  Black  Cochins  were  not  unknown  six 
or  eight  years  before  it  is  claimed  they  were  originally  used  as 
a  foundation  for  the  new  Plymouth  Rocks. 

Richardson's  book,  "Domestic  Fowl  and  Ornamental  Poul- 
try," gives  some  interesting  points  regarding  the  China  fowls. 
On  page  70  we  find  the  statement  that :  "The  terms  Cochin  China 
and  Shanghae  may  be  used  synonomously."  On  page  72 :  "To 
divide  them  (Cochin  China  and  Shanghae)  into  classes  is  decid- 
edly a  mistake,  as  no  sufficient  marks  exist  to  establish  them  as 
distinct  varieties."  On  page  74,  Richardson  quotes  Mr.  Trotter's 
prize  essay  of  the  Royal  Agricultural  Society  in  1851  as  follows: 
"The  most  esteemed  color  of  these  fowls  is  ginger ;  but  as  there 
are  pure  bred  birds  of  almost  all  colors,  including  black  and 
white.  I  am  in  favor  of  selecting  them  as  much  by  their  shai)es 
as  by  their  color. 

"Shape,  size,  gait  and  weight  may  be  assured  as  permanent 
characteristics — not  so,  feathers.  Not  only  do  white  and  l>lack 
Bantams,  Cuckoo  Dorkings  and  game  fowls  sport  in  feathers, 


PLYMOf  Til  lUX'K  srWDARD  AXD  BREED  BOOK  77 

l)Ut  the  more  uniform  breeds,  the  Black  Polanders,  the  Minorcas, 
and  even  the  Spanish  take  a  white  speck,  spot  and  even  feathers, 
when  the  fit  is  on  them ;  so  with  the  Shanghaes.  The  breeder 
may  start  in  the  Spring  with  buffs,  cinnamons  or  partridge  col- 
ored parents  and  their  progeny  in  November  will  display  all  the 
colors  of  the  rainbow,  except,  to  be  sure,  the  blue.  Nay,  they 
may  put  on  the  affirmative  of  due  proportions  of  the  whole  as 
white,  or  the  negative  as  black  specimens."  So  strong  is  the 
writer,  who  Richardson  styles  as  an  acute  and  experienced  ama- 
teur on  this  point,  that  he  goes  on,  on  page  87.  to  say  that  this 
tendency  to  sport  may  be  checked,  but  never,  he  believes, 
subdued. 

From  these  statements,  made  as  far  back  as  1851,  we  can 
readily  see  what  an  opportunity  any  one  had  to  produce  in  the 
interval  between  about  what  they  chose  in  color  of  Cochins. 

Page  74,  after  quoting  Mr.  Trotter,  the  prize  essay  from 
Royal  Agricultural  Society  in  1851,  Richardson,  referring  to 
that  essay,  comments  upon  the  statements  of  the  same  as  follows : 

"They  are  valuable,  coming  from  a  gentleman  who  has  car- 
ried off  prizes  for  best  Cochins.  Dorkings,  etc.,  at  the  Northum- 
berland and  Durham  Society  Shows." 

In  a  work  on  fowls  published  in  London,  England.  1860,  John 
Baily  mentions  these  diff'erent  kinds  of  Cochin-Chinas.  Buff, 
Lemon,  Cinnamon,  Grouse,  Partridge,  White  and  Black.  This 
corroborates  the  authors  cited  and  others  and,  to  reiterate  it 
would  seem,  if  they  had  Black  Cochins  (or  Shanghaes)  in  Eng- 
land as  early  as  1851,  that  without  question  Black  Cochins  existed 
in  England  and  elsewhere  long  before  the  now  famous  Spaulding 
cross  was  made,  and  if  they  were  known  in  that  country  as  early 
as  1851,  it  is  strongly  probable  that  they  were  bred  in  this  coun- 
try long  before  Spaulding  created  the  Plymouth  Rock,  because 
there  was  so  much  in  common  between  the  poultry  breeders  of 
the  two  countries  and  English  importations  of  all  new  varieties 
were  the  fad  of  those  times. 

Black  Cochins  in  America. — But  we  are  not  compelled  to  rely 
on  the  fact  that  B^ack  Cochins  existed  in  England,  as  we  have 
direct  evidence  that  they  were  frequently  met  with  in  our  earliest 
American  exhibitions.  We  submit  letters  from  Mr.  C.  P.  Nettle- 
ton,  who,  at  the  time  of  writing,  was  a  well  known  breeder  of 
Light  Brahmas.     The  letters  read  as  follows  : 


78  .1  l//;/.'/r  I  \    /'(>/  /.77.'V     1N,S(K7  I770.V 

Slii'lton,  Couii.,  Sept.  IS,   U)l)l. 
Editors,  Fariii   I'oultry. 

Dear  Sirs:  Yours  in  refeieiu-i'  to  Bliick  Cocliiiis  at  Pliiladeli)hia, 
1868,  come  to  hand.  Black  Cochins  were  exhibited  at  that  time  hv 
Mr.  John  Clapp  of  Philadelpliia,  A.  M.  Halstead,  Rye,  N.  Y.,  Mr.  Gilbert, 
Pennsylvania.  Yours, 

(Signed)       0.  P.  NETTLETON. 
Shelton,  Conn.,  Sept.    18,  1901. 

Kditors,   Farm    Poultry. 

Dear  Sirs:  Let  me  tell  you  about  Black  Coi-hius  as  T  knew  about 
them  long  ago. 

I  tlrst  bought  some,  as  1  called  them,  Black  Cochins,  in  1868. 
They  were  commonly  called  by  moiit  people  Black  Javas,  had  feathered 
legs,  but  scant  feathering,  hardly  a  bird  having  any  feathers  on  the 
middle  toe.  I  worked  at  them  for  five  or  six  years  to  get  the  feathers 
on  the  middle  toe.  About  this  time  P.  Williams  took  them  up,  and 
P.  Williams  and  myself  were  the  most  prominent  exhibitors  for  some 
time  of  Black  Cochins.  Where  Mr.  Williams  got  his  from  at  first  I 
never  knew^ 

Most  all  parties  who  spoke  of  these  black  birds,  as  long  ago  as 
1868,  called  them  Black  Javas.  Some  of  these  kind  of  fowls  were 
shown  at  the  New  York  show  held  in  Barnum's  Museum  long  before 
that  time   (1868). 

Perhaps  Mr.  Williams  can  tell  you  something  about  them.  My 
memory  don 't  serve  me  as  I  wish  it  did. 

Will  send  you  a  copy  of  that  Plymouth  Rock   item  soon. 
Yours  truly, 

(Signed)       C.  P.  NETTLKTON. 

The  show  at  Barnum's  Museum  which  Mr.  Nettleton  referred 
to  was  held  during  February,  1854.  According  to  this.  Black 
Cochins  were  found  in  America  in  ample  season  to  become  one 
of  the  foundations  of  Plymouth  Rocks. 

We  copy  the  following  paragraph  froiu  "The  China  Fowl," 
by  G.  P.  Burnham,  as  further  i)roof  of  their  presence  in  America 
at  an  even  earlier  date : 

"The  Black  Shanghae  is  less  common  among  us  than  any 
other  variety.  In  1850,  at  the  time  we  obtained  through  William 
T.  Porter  from  Shanghae  our  second  lot  of  Light  Gray  birds, 
we  found  an  excellent  trio  (cock  and  two  hens)  of  the  B'ack 
variety  which,  with  the  five  Light  Grays  then  obtained,  and  a 
splendid  trio  of  Dark  Brown  birds,  we  took  to  Melrose  to  breed. 
The  Black  ones  bred  true  to  the  originals  and  were  of  the  best 
color  (for  their  dusky  metallic  hue)  that  we  ever  saw.  We  did 
not  fancy  them  greatly,  however,  and  bred  them  only  one  or  two 
seasons.    We  give  portaits  of  the  Black  birds  here;  and  it  will  be 


I'LYMOl'TH  ROCK  ST WhMih  AM)  IIREBD  BOOK  1'.) 

seen  that,  excepting  the  change  of  color  again,  they  represent 
the  same  formed  fowl  from  beak  to  toes — the  true  Shanghae, 
though  ebony-hued." 

Bement,  in  the  1863  edition  of  the  American  Poulterers'  Com- 
panion, gives  a  variety  of  Shanghaes  (afterwards  called 
Cochins),  Buff,  Yellow,  Cinnamon,  White,  Gray,  Black  and  Part- 
ridge colored.  Here  is  a  mention  of  Black  Cochins  in  an  Ameri- 
can work  at  a  date  prior  to  the  first  cross ;  and  in  another  but  a 
few  years  after  that  event  in  the  Hand  Book  of  P^oultry,  pub- 
lished by  Pettingill,  Bates  &  Co.,  New  York,  that  mentions  nine 
varieties  of  Cochins,  Buff,  Lemon,  Silver,  Silver  Cinnamon,  Cin- 
namon, Partridge,  Grouse,  Gray,  White  and  Black. 

More  evidence  along  this  line  is  available  but  enough  has 
been  cited  to  conclusively  prove  that  Black  Cochins  were  bred 
in  America  long  enough  before  the  event  of  the  Plymouth  Rock 
to  permit  of  their  use  in  the  original  cross. 

Were  Cochins  and  Javas  the  Same  Fowl?  —  Just  why  there 
has  been  so  much  misunderstanding  about  this  ancestry  and  why 
the  Java  has  been  so  often  cited  as  a  parent  of  the  first  American 
breed  seems  strange  indeed,  but  Mr.  Nettleton  drops  a  salient 
hint  in  his  letter :  "They  were  called  by  most  people  Black  Javas, 
had  feathered  legs,"  etc.  From  this  statement  we  may  clearly 
deduce  the  fact  that  the  terms  Black  Cochin  and  Black  Java  were 
interchangeable  at  that  period,  and  of  this  fact  it  is  possible  to 
find  much  more  evidence. 

The  Premium  Lists  of  the  Nashua  (New  Hampshire)  and 
I'hiladelphia  (Pennsylvania)  shows  for  the  year  1871  contain  t:  c 
following  lines  in  their  classification  of  breeds  to  which  ])rize.-; 
would  be  awarded. 

BLACK    COCHINS  (OR   JAVAS) 

This  classification  in  this  form  can  have  but  one  interpreta- 
tion, namely  :  That  the  two  names  stood  for  the  same  fowl ;  that 
they  were  so  considered,  and  further,  that  the  term  Java  was 
considered  to  have  been  incorrectly  applied  by  the  best  authori- 
ties of  the  day  is  brought  out  by  the  fact  that  the  term  "Java" 
was  dropped  by  the  first  standard  makers  and  the  term  "Cochin" 
used.  Black  Cochins  are  described  in  the  first  standard  and  in 
every  standard  that  has  followed  it.  down  to  the  present  time, 
but  Javas  were  not  admitted  and  described  initil  the  1883  edition 
was  published. 

Mr.  I.  K.  F"elch  has  called  attention  to  this  Int  of  history  sev- 
eral times.     ( )ne  of  his  articles  appeared  in  the  Poultry  Monthly, 


so  .1  i//;/i'/r.i.Y  I'ori/ruY  associatiox 

Deceml)er,  1891,  in  which  he  makes  tlie  following  statements 
concerning  the  relation  of  Cochins,  javas  and  Shanghaes  in 
general : 

"In  1852  the  first  heavy  bhick  fowls  of  an  Asiatic  tyi)e  ap- 
peared in  Massachusetts  as  Black  Javas.  The  females  were 
black ;  some  of  the  males  were  wdiolly  black,  others  had  mahog- 
any-streaked necks  with  red  mahogany  round  spots  on  the  wing 
coverts.  The  Cochin  Chinas,  or  Shanghae — they  were  called  by 
both  names — came  to  us  in  buff,  grouse  color,  black-reds,  the 
black  now  and  then  appearing.  From  the  first  trio  I  owned,  a 
male,  then  called  Black-Red,  identical  with  Partridge  Cochin 
male  of  today,  a  buff  colored  pullet,  and  hen  buff  in  ground  color, 
minutely  penciled  v^^ith  dark  l)rown,  came  black  chicks,  as  well 
as  some  the  color  of  Partridge.  Buff,  and  White  Cochins,  which 
bred  true  to  color.  The  first  Black  Cochins  were  a  dull  black. 
When  the  first  American  standard  was  made,  all  these  Shang- 
haes were  christened  Cochins,  and  the  Black  put  in  the  list ;  this 
ignored  the  Black  Javas  and  forced  them  into  the  Cochin  class. 
Many  breeders  were  striving  to  breed  them  to  smooth  shanks, 
and  birds  were  becoming  more  plentiful  with  the  smooth  shank. 
The  action  of  the  fanciers  was  somewdiat  censured  for  thus  ignor- 
ing a  breed  which  some  claimed  were  older  residents  of  the 
country  than  the  Cochin.  But  the  act  pressed  all  the  Black 
Asiatic  blood  into  the  class ;  the  result  was  that  for  a  while, 
although  the  Blacks  were  less  piu'e  in  Cochin  type,  they  were 
the  most  prolific  in  that  they  laid  more  and  larger  eggs." 

From  the  above  it  appears  that  Black  Javas  were  Black 
Cochins,  according  to  the  "Standard  of  Excellence,"  at  least. 
It  would  further  be  a  fair  inference  that  two  sorts  of  Black 
Asiatics  were  being  developed,  one  with  heavy  leg  feathering 
and  another  with  less  and  with  much  lighter  bodies.  That  those 
who  favored  no  leg  feathering  did  not  perfect  their  ideals  is  ap- 
parent from  the  foregoing. 

Several  of  the  citations  previously  quoted  agree  upon  the 
number  of  different  varieties  of  Shanghaes  or  Cochins,  also  upon 
the  character  of  each  of  these  varieties,  showing  thereby  that  a 
distinct  breed  with  many  different  varieties — in  conformity  with 
the  modern  understanding  of  the  terms  "breed"  and  "variety" 
and  our  conception  of  the  distinction  between  the  two  terms — 
existed  in  those  days.  On  the  other  hand,  we  hear  of  only  one 
variety  of  Java  in  those  days,  the  Black.  Even  the  Mottled  is 
not  mentioned.     Otherwise  than  through   faulty  nomenclature, 


I'LYMOI  7  11   A'OrA    STWDAint  AM)   HliF.F.n   HOOK  SI 

the  Java  of  ihe  early  period  herein  alluded  to  leads  a  very  douht- 
ful  existence.  No  definite  nor  authentic  information  for  a  Black 
Java  that  was  distinct  from  the  Black  Cochin  of  the  period  be- 
tween 1850  and  1870  can  l)e  found.  Coupled  with  this  fact,  the 
absence  of  a  Java  in  our  first  standard  becomes  significant,  par- 
ticularly as  the  first  of  these  works  was  pul)lished  but  a  decade 
or  so  after  the  original  cross  that  produced  the  Plymouth  Kock 
was  made  and  so  few  years  after  this  particular  Java  was  sup- 
posed to  have  flourished. 

Well  and  truly  did  .^toddard  (1880)  write:  "On  lUack  Java 
hens,  a  sort  now  nearly  or  (juite  unknown  in  this  country  ;"  and 
this  plain  admission  that  the  dam  of  a  great  race  of  fowls,  then 
rapidly  becoming  "if  not  already  more  commonly  kept  than  any 
other  race,"  was  nearly  if  not  quite  unknown  in  this  country,  only 
eleven  years  after  the  race  made  its  first  public  appearance  and 
no  more  than  fifteen  probably  after  its  creation.  What  could 
have  become  of  it  in  the  very  few  years  intervening  is  beyond 
conception  unless,  as  Mr.  Felch  has  suggested,  it  was  classed  as 
a  Cochin  by  our  best  standard  makers,  and  if  men  of  their  breadth 
of  intelligence,  their  long  experience  and  reputation  in  the  poul- 
try world,  classed  them  as  Cochins — Cochins  in  reality  without 
doubt  they  were — for  men  of  the  calibre  of  our  first  standard 
makers  could  not  be  mistaken  upon  a  question  of  breed  charac- 
teristics— certainly  not  all  of  them,  and  with  the  characteristics 
involved,  those  of  a  breed  as  commonly  kept  and  understood  as 
the  Cochin. 

English  Opinions  as  to  Origin. — With  our  own  good  Ameri- 
can breeders  so  feverishly  excited  and  possibly  prejudiced  either 
by  their  friendship  for  the  men  involved  or  l)y  their  opinoins  of 
the  breeds  in  question,  or  not  in  question,  it  may  be  somewhat 
refreshing  to  seek  the  opinions  of  those  who  may  review  the 
heated  question  in  a  cooler  atmosphere  or  at  a  distance  and  surely 
with  prejudice  wholly  removed.  All  these  men  had,  when  their 
opinions  were  expressed,  made  questions  of  poultry  cvdture  the 
study  of  rather  long  lives  even  then  and,  although  each  of  them 
lived  for  years  afterwards,  they  were  not  known  to  advance  any 
opinion  differing  in  any  particular  from  those  herein  quoted. 

Edward  Brown  of  London,  luigland,  whose  writings  are 
familiar  to  many  poultrymen  in  America  and  whose  war-time  lec- 
tures have  been  so  well  received  recently  ( 1918)  in  this  country, 
wrote  in  1884,  under  the  name  of  Stei)hen  Reale,  in  a  work  en- 
titled "Profitable  Poultry  Keeping,"  page  117: 


82  AMi:h'/<'A\    J'OI  i/im    ASSOr/A'llOX 

"This  is  a  variety  of  New  luiglaiul  manufacture,  but  is. 
nevertheless,  a  most  useful  breed  for  general  purposes  and  has 
become  wonderfully  popular  within  a  very  short  time.  The  fowls 
are  cuckoo  in  plumage  and  resemble  a  Cochin  in  shape  more 
than  anything  else,  as  that  variety  has  doubtless  had  much  to 
do  in  the  making  of  them." 

Harrison  Weir,  in  the  second  volume  of  Our  Poultry  and 
-Ml  About  Them,  discusses  the  American  Plymouth  Rock  and 
])lainly  shows  that  he  is  very  much  inclined  to  adopt  a  theory 
tliat  our  modern  Plymouth  Rock  is  but  a  perpetuation  of  the 
breed  originated  by  Dr.  Bennett,  which  all  other  authorities 
regard  as  extinct.  By  so  doing  he  certainly  leans  most  decidedly 
to  the  Cochin  side  of  the  controversy,  as  a  quotation  from  this 
discussion  by  Mr.  Weir  reads : 

"The  Plymouth  Rock  fowl,  then,  is  in  reality  one-half  Cochin 
China,  one-fourth  fawn-colored  Dorking,  one-eighth  Crcat 
Malay  and  one-eighth  ^^'ild  Indian." 

After  quoting  the  vital  part  of  the  Ramsdell  article  in  the 
Poultry  Monthly,  \A'eir  comments  rather  testily :  "Then  a  new 
cross  between  the  Dominique  and  some  Asiatics  and  lastly,  an- 
other cross,  and  that  \vith  the  so-called  Java,  of  which  it  is  said 
in  Kerr's  American  edition  of  the  Rev.  E.  S.  Dixon's  book 
(1860).  that  no  such  breed  existed  in  America.  *  *  *  .So 
much  for  the  Java,  but  the  origin  of  the  Dominique  thus  remains 
unknown." 

Plainly.  Mr.  Weir  does  not  accept,  even  reluctantly,  the 
Java  as  a  parent  of  the  Plymouth  Rock  and  it  seems  that  he  may 
be  equally  skeptical  concerning  the  Dominique  parentage.  Look- 
ing at  the  Plymouth  Rock  fowl  from  all  angles  and  weighing  all 
theories  in  the  scales  of  probability  and  possibility,  Mr.  Weir 
again  states : 

"*  *  *  ]j,^^(-  ^^.g  j^j-g  |-q]^j  ^\-^^^  ^Y[Qy  j^j-g  ^  ^-^Q^y  invention  made 
from  a  cross  between  Domini(|ues  and  Asiatics,  and  which  they 
have  every  appearance  of." 

The  third  eminent  English  authority  we  wish  to  quote  is  Mr. 
Lewis  Wright.  It  is  particularly  agreeable  and  pleasing  to 
American  writers  to  find  that  a  fellow  countryman  and  contem- 
porary of  Mr.  Weir  contributes  the  strongest  and  ablest  article 
in  refutation  of  Mr.  Weir's  theory  of  the  perpetuation  of  the 
Bennett   line   of    Plymouth    Rocks.      This    able   and   instructive 


I'LVMoi  ■III  h'di  K  s'i'.WDAL'i)  A\i>  nifi:i:i)  HOOK  s:', 

article  will  be  ai)i)reciatc(l  thorou^yhly  by  all   sludents  of   riym- 
outh  Rock  history. 

"The  variety  now  known  by  this  name  has  never  been  cor- 
rectly described  in  any  work  on  poultry ;  all  hitherto  published, 
both  in  England  and  America,  confounding  it  with  a  creation  of 
Dr.  Bennett's  some  twenty  years  ago,  and  described  by  him  in 
his  well  known  American  work  on  fowls.  This  description  is 
highly  curious  and  well  illustrates  our  opening  remarks  on  some 
American  so-called  'breeds.'  T  have  given  this  name,'  he  says. 
'to  a  very  extra  breed  of  fowls,  which  I  produced  by  crossing  a 
Cochin  China  cockerel  with  a  hen  that  was  herself  a  cross  be- 
tween the  Fawn-colored  Dorking,  the  Great  Malay  and  the  Wild 
Indian.  Her  weight  is  six  pounds  seven  ounces.  The  Plymouth 
Rock  fowl,  then,  is  really  one-half  Cochin,  one-fourth  Fawn- 
colored  Dorking,  one-eighth  Great  Malay  and  one-eighth  Indian. 
Their  plumage  is  rich  and  variegated,  the  cocks  usually  red  and 
speckled,  and  the  pullets  darkish  brown.  They  are  very  fine 
fleshed  and  early  fit  for  the  table.  Their  legs  are  large  and 
usually  blue  or  green,  but  occasionally  yellow  or  white,  generally 
having  five  toes  upon  each  foot ;  seme  have  the  legs  feathered, 
but  this  is  not  usual.' 

"It  is  only  necessary  to  read  the  aliove  description  to  see 
that  this  extra  breed  of  fowls,  which  bred  legs  yellow,  white, 
blue-green,  feathered  or  clean,  five-toed  or  four-toed,  could  not 
possibly  last  long.  It  was  too  'extra'  for  this  world  and  even 
the  inventor  could  not  'run  the  machine'  long,  so  complicaLed 
was  it  in  its  various  parts.  This  Plymouth  Rock,  then,  naturally 
and  inevitably  disappeared  from  simple  disintegration  of  its 
heterogeneous  materials,  and  though  Dr.  Bennett's  old  descri])- 
tion  has  been  copied  by  all  poultry  authors/  who  have  noticed 
the  fowl  up  to  the  present  date,  this  has  arisen  from  igno- 
rance, first  of  the  fowl  itself  and.  secondly,  of  the  accounts  given 
by  its  breeders  and  producers.  So  completely  had  the  old  P]}m- 
outh  Rock  disappeared,  that  in  the  first  poultry  journal  e-er 
published  in  America,  the  New  York  Poultry  Bulletin,  no  notice 
whatever  is  taken  of  any  fowl  under  that  name  during  the  first 
two  years  of  its  issue.  The  description  in  the  American  'Stand- 
ard of  Excellence,'  published  in  1871,  states  the  color  as  dark  or 
light  steel-grey  for  cocks,  and  dark  steel-mottled  black  and  white, 
black  and  white  bars  well  defined  across  each  feather,  fcr  the 
hens.  1^his  is  evidently  intended  to  descril)e  Dominique  mark- 
ing, and  indeed  the  editor  adds  a  remark  in  brackets  that  he  con- 


H4  WIHh'K'W    I'Oll/fin      \ss<><'l\'l'l<>\ 

siders  it  wrong,  and  that  the  pKmiage  should  ])e  described  'same 
as  Dominiques,'  but  in  any  case  it  widely  differs  from  Dr.  Ben- 
nett's, and  accordingly,  by  degrees,  a  totally  dififerent  account  of 
the  origin  of  the  breed  begins  to  appear.  The  first  authentic 
account  we  were  able  to  obtain  came  to  us  in  answer  to  a  special 
inquiry  in  a  letter  from  Mr.  W.  Simpson.  Jr.,  of  West  Farms, 
New  York,  dated  August  12,  "1871.  In  this  letter  he  says  of 
them:  'If  l)red  with  care,  they  will  make  a  fine  variety.  They 
are  an  Improved  Dominique,  being  just  like  them  except  in  comb 
and  size ;  they  have  a  single  comb  and  are  larger,  as  they  have  a 
touch  of  Asiatic  in  them.'  He  adds :  'They  do  not  breed  very 
straight  yet.'  In  another  letter  dated  April  26,  1873,  enclosing 
the  revised  and  corrected  'Standard  of  Excellence'  for  the  vari- 
ety, which  will  be  found  at  the  end,  and  wliich,  after  careful 
study  of  the  bird,  we  have  also  followed  in  our  own  schedule  for 
judging  the  fowl  (no  alteration  being  made  further  than  to  re- 
arrange the  various  points  in  the  order  adopted  after  full  con- 
sideration throughout  this  work),  the  same  gentleman  adds  the 
following  particulars,  first  premising  that  the  'already  printed 
Standard  is  very  incorrect,  i)articularly  in  color  of  plumage  and 
tail.'     He  then  proceeds  as  follows : 

"  'After  a  little  careful  breeding  I  think  the  Plymouth  Rock 
will  be  a  grand  fowl  and  second  to  none  for  all  purposes.  As 
yet  they  do  not  breed  quite  true  always  and  their  eggs  are  all 
colors  and  sizes.  They  are  handsome,  good  setters,  and  good 
for  table,  and  I  intend  myself  to  stick  to  them  and  try  and  get 
them  right.  They  were  produced  from  single-combed  Domi- 
niques crossed  with  Asiatics.  Dominiciue  fowls  are  the  same  in 
color,  and  are  a  useful  variety ;  but  twenty  years  ago  when  the 
Shanghaes  made  their  appearance,  these  took  their  place  in  the 
estimation  of  the  public,  and  the  Dominiques  were  much  neg- 
lected by  fanciers,  so  that  they  do  not  breed  any  straighter  now 
than  the  Plymouth  Rocks.'  " 

Referring  to  the  article  by  Rev.  H.  S.  Ramsdell  in  the  Poul- 
try. Pigeon  and  Pet  Stock  Bulletin.  March,  1873,  already  quoted, 
Mr.  Wright  comments : 

"The  Black  Java  fowl  referred  to  in  the  above  extract  is  evi- 
dently an  Asiatic  bird  (either  pure  or  cross-bred),  containing  a 
great  deal  of  the  Malay.  \\'e  ha\'e  made  inquiries  of  other 
American  sources  and.  while  some  afiirm  the  Cochin  crt)ss  to 
have   been   employed,    every    correspondent,    without    exce|)ti()n. 


PLYMOUTH  h'OCh   s'l'AXDMa)    1  \ 7>  HRKFJ)  HOOK  S". 

States  that  one  of  the  parents  was  the  Dominique  fowl.  Our 
own  strong  opinion  is  that  the  Dominique  and  also  the  Asiatic 
races  being  very  common  in  America,  many  cases  of  crossing 
have  occurred,  and  that  thus  the  same  fowl — half  Asiatic  and 
half  Dominique — probably  has  been  produced  in  various  quar- 
ters, and  not  in  any  one  alone;  but,  however  this  may  be,  the 
facts  of  Dr.  Bennett's  birds  being  extinct,  and  that  the  modern 
fowl  was  originally  a  half-bred  Dominique,  are  absolutely  cer- 
tain. 

"Only  one  or  two  importations  of  Plymouth  Rocks  have  yet 
reached  this  country ;  one  of  which,  sent  over  by  Mr.  W.  Simp- 
son, arrived  for  the  Birmingham  Show  of  November,  1872,  and 
took  honors  in  the  'Any  V'ariety'  class.  The  variety,  as  now 
brought  to  something  like  perfection,  almost  precisely  resembles 
a  Cuckoo  Cochin  with  smooth  legs,  but  has  a  considerably  larger 
tail  and  a  very  full  and  prominent  breast,  derived  from  the  Domi- 
nique ancestry.  The  head  and  comb  are  unmistakably  Cochin. 
As  regards  the  flesh,  the  Dominique  seems  to  predominate,  the 
fowl  being  juicy  and  good  for  the  table.  It  is  a  moderate  setter, 
about  equal  to  average  Brahmas  as  regards  to  frequency  of  incu- 
bation ;  grows  fast  and  is  a  capital  layer.  In  all  its  economic 
qualities,  in  fact,  it  very  closely  resembles  the  Brahma  and  even 
its  habits,  being  an  active  forager;  but  does  not  generally  stay 
up  nearly  so  late  from  roost.  The  color  being  well  adapted  for 
wear,  we  must  pronounce  the  Plymouth  Rock  a  capital  fowl, 
giving  all  the  good  qualities  of  the  Cochin  without  its  principal 
drawbacks,  and  likely  to  suit  the  many  who  desire  a  large, 
noble-looking  bird,  but  whose  taste  does  not  incline  to  the  feath- 
ered legs  and  flufify  proportions  of  the  Asiatics,  and  who  dread 
the  delicacy  of  the  Dorking. 

"In  breeding  this  fowl,  as  in  all  others  of  cuckoo  color,  the 
chief  point  .is  to  preserve  the  pure,  bluish-gray  and  carefully  to 
avoid  pure  white,  black  or  especially  red  feathers.  Some  little 
uncertainty  in  this  respect  will  be  found  at  first  in  all  imported 
l)irds,  but  by  care  in  choosing  breeding-stock  from  the  progeny, 
may  readily  be  checked,  as  no  color  is  easier  to  breed  'true'  than 
tins  Dominique  marking,  with  a  little  judicious  selection.  The 
combs  will  require  the  same  careful  breeding  and  the  same  pre- 
cautions against  premature  showing,  which  we  have  already 
treated  of  in  Cochins." 

The  reader  will  notice,  doubtless,  that  while  Mr.  Wright 
gives  equal  prominence  to  the  Cochin  and  Java  theories  of  origin, 
he  frequently  indulges  in  comparison  of  the  Plymouth  Rock  with 


sti  .i.i//;A'/r  i.v  j-ori/nn  .i.s.s-or/.iv'yo.v 

the  Cochin — always  with  the  Cochin,  Init  not  once  with  the 
Java.  Evidently,  the  early  Java  is  a  bird  with  which  he  is  not 
familiar  and,  therefore,  has  no  reason  for  discussing  it.  His 
only  comment  on  the  Java  is:  "The  Black  Java  fowl  referred 
to  in  the  above  extract  (Ramsdell's  article),  is  evidently  an 
Asiatic  bird  (either  pure  or  cross-l)re(i )  containing  a  great  deal 
of  Malay." 

Mr.  Wright's  position  upon  this  is  not  quite  clear  to  Ameri- 
can poultrymen,  but  the  statement  justifies  the  comment  that  the 
Java  is  a  fowl  evidently  unknown  to  him.  To  quote  Mr.  Wright 
once  more:  "We  have  made  inquiries  of  other  American  sources  ; 
and  while  some  affirm  the  Cochin  cross  to  have  been  employed, 
every  correspondent,  without  exception,  states  that  one  of  the 
parents  was  the  Dominique  fowl." 

After  a  mention  of  the  English  importations  from  America, 
note  that  Mr.  Wright  describes  our  American  Plymouth  Rocks 
in  this  language :  "The  variety  is  now  brought  to  something  like 
perfection — almost  precisely  resembles  a  Cuckoo  Cochin  with 
smooth  legs.  *  *  *  jj-^  ^\i  j^-g  economic  qualities  it  closely 
resembles  the  Brahma,  etc. — a  capital  fowl,  giving  all  the  good 
qualities  of  the  Cochin  without  its  principal  drawbacks — the 
combs  will  require  the  same  careful  breeding  and  the  same  pre- 
cautions against  premature  showing,  which  we  have  already 
treated  of  in  Cochins." 

From  what  does  the  Plymouth  Rock  acquire  these  Cochin 
characteristics  if  not  from  the  Cochin?  If  from  the  Java,  must 
not  the  Java  have  been  a  Cochin  ? 

Apply,  if  you  please,  the  fact  suggested  by  Mr.  Wright's  line 
of  reasoning  in  the  sentence:  "Our  own  strong  ()])inion  is  - 
Plymouth  Rocks,  Danver  Whites  and  nearly,  if  not  al'.  American 
breeds  also  owe  much  to  a  Cochin  cross." 

We  are  told  by  several  of  the  writers  of  the  period  which  fol- 
lowed closely  the  appearance  of  the  Plymouth  Rock,  that  several 
origins  were  probable.  What  do  we  find  the  origin  to  be  in  these 
instances?  The  component  parts  of  other  strains?  According 
to  all  prescribed  accounts.  Cochin  or  Brahmas  with  the  Domi- 
nique. The  Drake  strain  was  the  best  known  of  those  that  were 
developed  by  crossing  year  after  year,  and  we  have  corrobora- 
tory evidence  that  Drake  used  Dominique  or  hawk-colored  hens 
and  an  Asiatic  male.      His  own  statement   which,  according  to 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  87 

Bishop,  was  made  to  Mark  Pitman  and  \'.   C.   Gilman.  covers 
this  point  with  an  out  and  out  plain  statement  of  fact : 

"Being  out  of  heahh,  I  engaged  in  the  business  of  picking 
up  fowls  about  the  country  for  market  purposes.  Coming  across 
a  lot  of  hawk-colored  pullets,  I  was  so  pleased  with  them  that 
instead  of  butchering,  I  bred  them  to  an  available  Asiatic  grade." 

Other  authorities  mention  White  Cochins  and  Light  Brahmas 
as  the  probable  source  of  Asiatic  blood  in  the  Brake  strain  be- 
cause of  their  presence  on  the  premises.  Mr.  Felch  names  Dark 
Brahma.  Whether  Mr.  Felch  saw  the  evidence  or  drew  con- 
clusion after  observing  the  result  of  Drake's  crosses,  we  do  not 
know.  It  would  not  be  strange,  of  course,  if  the  "available 
Asiatic  grade"  of  Mr.  Drake's  was  the  "Dark  Brahma"  of  Mr. 
Felch's — as  a  grade  with  Asiatic  blood  might  easily  resemble 
the  Dark  Brahma. 

We  see  in  the  above  no  sign  of  a  "Java,"  and  this  case  is  like 
all  others,  so  far  as  we  are  supplied  with  accounts.  Those  who 
attempted  to  copy  the  fowls  that  Upham  introduced  and  found 
popular  and  profitable  to  breed,  invariably,  as  far  as  we  are 
acquainted  with  the  facts,  used  Asiatic  of  one  kind  and  another, 
but  no  Java  blood,  with  Dominique.  These  results  were,  many 
of  them  at  least,  successful.  That  is,  these  crosses  produced  a 
fowl  that  so  closely  resembled  the  color  and  type  of  the  ones 
that  Spaulding,  Ramsdell  and  Upham  were  producing,  that  they 
competed  with  them  for  public  favor.  This  fact,  in  itself,  is 
the  strongest  corroboratory  evidence  in  favor  of  the  claim  of 
Cochin  parentage. 

Bishop's  Opinion  and  the  Reasons  for  It. — Furthermore,  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Bishop,  who  evidently  gave  this  question  much  study 
and  who  was  editor  of  that  Journal  at  the  time  Ramsdell's  article 
was  published  in  the  New  York  Poultry,  Pigeon  and  Pet  Stock 
Bulletin,  later  in  an  article  published  in  Farm  Poultry,  year  1901, 
repudiated  the  Java  claim,  writing  that  upon  his  return  (from 
New  York)  to  his  old  habitations,  he  became  convinced  that  such 
claim  was  not  justified  by  facts.  In  his  pamphlet,  "Development 
of  the  Plymouth  Rock,"  Bishop  makes  the  following  pertinent 
remarks : 

"The  Drake  Strain,  i.  e.,  the  'Norfolk,'  never  had  any  mixture 
of  Java  blood ;"  which  statement  agrees  with  the  foregoing. 

Again,  we  find  this  statement :  "Those  who  obtained  their 
birds  from  the  Spaulding  stock  direct,  never  had  any  Java  blood. 


SS  .\.]JJJRirA\    J'OiJ/im    ,INNO(7  1770V 

Of  these  were  Mr.  Ramsdell,  AJr.  Curhelt,  and  many  others. 
The  stock  was  widely  diffused,  entirely  outside  of  the  birds  that 
Mr.  Upham  manipulated.  Spaulding  never  owned  a  real  Java, 
whatever  they  may  have  called  a  Java.     .     .     ." 

This  certainly  vitally  aft'ects  the  controversy,  if  true,  and  it 
would  seem  that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bishop  from  his  location  in  the 
center  of  the  culture  of  early  Plymouth  Rocks  and  by  his  asso- 
ciations with  so  many  of  the  early  breeders,  was  in  a  position  to 
become  acquainted  with  the  facts,  if  a  writer  ever  was ;  further- 
more, his  experience  with  fowls,  his  writings  and  his  former 
position  as  editor  of  the  Poultry,  Pigeon  and  Pet  Stock  Bulletin, 
all  indicate  that  he  must  have  possessed  the  attainments  to 
qualify  him  as  an  authority  whose  judgment  can  be  absolutely 
relied  upon. 

Bishop  goes  a  step  further  and  eliminates  the  "Java"  from 
the  Oilman  and  Pitman  stock  as  well  as  from  the  Spaulding. 
Ramsdell  and  Drake. 

The  crucial  point  in  the  controversy  is  and  always  has  been 
whether  Spaulding  used  a  Black  Cochin  or  a  Black  Java.  Bishop 
evidently  bases  the  opinions  just  quoted  upon  the  facts  as  he 
records  them  in  the  following  quotations  from  his  work : 

"So  far  as  I  can  determine,  whatever  fowls  the  Spauldings 
had  in  their  yards,  or  whtaever  they  may  have  called  a  Java,  the 
influence  of  that  so-called  or  believed  to  be  Java  was  purely 
imaginary.  The  Java  was  a  clean  legged  bird.  The  chicks 
hatched  from  Mr.  Spaulding's  yard  were  anything  but  that,  and 
those  feathered  legs  came  neither  from  the  Javas  nor  the  Domi- 
niques. 

"Marcus  F.  Town  of  Thompson.  Connecticut,  with  a  ten 
years'  knowledge  of  whatever  points  the  so-called  original  Plym- 
outh Rocks  bore  with  them,  writing  in  1876,  declares :  "The 
chickens  of  my  pair'  (purchased  of  Spaulding)  'were  many  of 
them  heavily  feathered  on  legs.  Next  year  with  a  better  mating 
for  color,  there  were  some  feather-legged.' 

"W.  H.  Todd  of  Ohio  sets  forth  the  statement  in  one  of  his 
publications  that  at  that  time  the  l^est  would  throw  some  feather 
legged  chicks. 

'Tndeed,  so  prevalent  was  this  mark  of  an  Asiatic  infusion, 
which  could  not  have  been  from  the  Java,  that  we  find  Mr.  C.  C. 
Corbett,  who  got  out  the  first  print  of  the  Plymouth  Rock  ( Fig- 
ure 8)  that  was  ever  made,  and  who  went  all  through  the  ques- 
tion as  to  their  origination,  writing-  to  the  Poultry  World  in 
A])ril,   1873.   to  ask:    'Have  you  anv  knowledge  of  a  stock  of 


I'LYMOI  111   h'OCh    ST AXDMx'n  AM)   lih'i:i:n   HOOK  S\) 

Plymouth  Rock  fowls  that  d(j  not  occasionally  throw  feather- 
legged  chicks?'  It  is  surprising  that  Mr.  Corbett,  getting  his 
birds  from  the  Spaulding  stock,  through  Mr.  Ramsdell,  should 
have  struck  so  early  as  this,  etc'  " 

Mark  Piiman's  Opinion. — Mark  Pitman  also  told  the  writer 
\erbaUy  that  all  the  trios  that  Upham  showed  at  Worcester  in 
18b9  wore  feathers  on  the  shanks,  some  more  and  some  less. 
'I'his  feature,  however,  might  be  attributed  to  the  cock  bird  of 
Burnham's  blood  which,  according  to  Upham's  accounts,  was 
])red  for  one  year  in  Upham's  yards.  Here,  however,  we  find 
three  instances  of  the  Spaulding  stock  wdiich  was  not  subjected 
to  that  influence,  showing  a  most  decided  tendency  to  show 
feathered  shanks.  This  tendency  must  have  been  due  to  the 
influence  of  the  Dominique  or  the  Black  Asiatic.  This  fault  of 
feathered  shanks  certainly  should  not  be  charged  against  the 
Dominique ;  therefore,  it  must  be  charged  against  the  Black 
Asiatic.  That  being  the  case,  what  breed  other  than  a  Cochin 
could  the  Black  Asiatic  have  been?  For,  according  to  all  our 
descriptions,  a  feather-legged  Black  Java  is  just  what  the  first 
standard  makers  called  it — a  Black  Cochin. 

The  Modern  Java. — The  modern  Java  is  of  later  development 
and  was  recognized  as  a  standard  breed  in  1883.  Its  origin  is 
undoubtedly  the  same  as  the  Plymouth  Rock  and  has  been  called 
a  Black  Plymouth  Rock.  The  book  describing  Plymouth  Rocks 
about  1880  gives  the  information  that  black  females  often  occur, 
and  we  obtain  information  of  the  same  character  from  Rams- 
dell's  article,  Upham  and  others.  Such  being  the  case,  it  is  plain 
that  black  males  could  have  been  produced  by  repeated  selection 
or  by  crossing  with  the  Spanish  or  some  black  varietv. 

The  points  of  this  Java-Cochin  controversy  have  been  pre- 
sented fully  because  it  seems  encumbent  upon  a  treatise  of  this 
nature  to  present  the  facts  as  far  as  they  can  be  ascertained  and 
the  opinions  of  those  who  had  the  best  opportunities  to  observe 
and  gain  a  knowledge  of  the  facts  as  nearly  first-handed  as  pos- 
sible and  who  were  the  most  competent  to  judge.  D.  A.  Upham 
and  Mark  Pitman,  of  all  men  living  in  1900  and  1901,  seemed  to 
be  those  men,  and  as  their  accounts,  though  verbal  for  the  most 
part,  but  related  many  miles  apart  and  obviously  at  different 
times,  coinciding  in  every  essential  detail,  practically  put  the 
writer's  mind  at  rest  on  this  much  mooted  question.'  Upham. 
though  well  along  in  years  at  the  time,  was  vigorous  physically 
as  well  as  mentally  and  most  positive  as  to  the  facts  as  related. 


00  .l.l//;/.'/r  IV  I'Ol  LTliV  A^HOCIArW^ 

Of  the  truth  of  the  statement  in  this  previous  sentence,  the  fol- 
lowing letter,  which  was  written  to  the  writer  January  1.  1900, 
will  prove  convincing": 

Wilsonville,  Conn.,  1-1- '00. 
Friend  Smith: 

Eeplying   to   your   favor  received.     I   received  two   copies   of   Farm 

Poultry,  one   containing  your   articles  and   one   of  Mr.  ,  who 

is  way  oif  on  his  statement.  If  he  is  correct,  where  did  the  progeny 
of  Mr.  Spaulding  get  their  feathered  legs  if  crossed  with  Black  Javas 

as   claims.      Javas    Avere    smooth-legged    fowls,    no    feathers, 

black  in  color  or  very  dark  slate  color  and  bottom  of  feet  VERY 
yellow,  and  everybody  knows  that  the  Barred  Plymouth  Rocks  (or 
ought  to  know)  had  more  or  less  feathers  on  legs  for  four  or  live 
years  from  first  cross  made  by  Spaulding,  who  never  bred  them  only 
for  poultry  and  eggs  with  all  kinds  of  barnyard  fowls.  I  bought  my 
birds  the  second  year  that  Mr.  Spaulding  bred  them.  Bought  tlie 
cock  that  Spaulding  bred  as  a  cockerel  and  two  hens.  Those  three 
birds  were  the  progeny  of  Spaulding 's  single  comb  old-fashioned  hawk 
colored  cock  bred  to  two  or  three  black  Cochin  hens  had  of  David 
Clark  of  Woodstock,  Conn.,  a  fact  I  know  from  Spaulding 's  and  ('lark's 
sayings  to  me  when  I  bought  my  birds,  and  the  hens  ALL  had  heavy 
feathered  legs.  The  trio  I  bought  had  feathers  on  legs.  Mark  Pitman 
knows  it  to  be  a  fact  as  he  saw  the  old  trio  at  Worcester  when  I  sold 
to  C.  Carol  Loring,  also  Oilman  of  Nashua,  N.  H.,  knows  that  they 
bred  feathers  on  legs  more  or  less  for  years. 

My  birds  all  bred  single  combs,  both  sexes,  NOT  ONE  did  I  ever 
have  come  rose  comb  and  for  two  years  my  chicks  came  with  more 
or  less  feathers  on  legs — some  with  very  few  and  half  or  more  showing 
feathers  to  a  considerable  extent. 

D.   A.   UPHAM. 

That  Mark  Pitman  approved  of  the  account  of  the  origin  as 
written  by  Bishop  will  be  clearly  proved  by  the  following-  self- 
explanatory  letter: 

79  Tliurston   Street,   Sonierville,   Mass. 
Mr.    Smitli. 

Dear  Sir:  Your  letter  came  to  me  where  I  have  been  living  for 
nearly  seven  years.  I  have  been  giving  away  poultry  matter  for  the 
].nst   ten   years. 

I  think  the  last  I  gave  to  Mr.  Atherton,  tlie  proprietor  of  the  Stock 
Keeper,  ]>rint(Ml  in  Boston. 

Among  that  was  a  history  of  the  Plymouth  Rock  by  the  Rev. 
M.  Bishop,  an  Episcopal  minister  living  in  Connecticut.  That  liistory 
was  accredited  by  Mr.  I'pham  and  myself,  which  you  can  call  upon 
Mr.    Atherton    and    get,    wliicli    will    give    yon    the    diitcs    iisked    for. 


I'LYMOITII  ROCK  HTANDAh'l)  AND  BREED  BOOK  01 

I  never  crossed  the  strnin  since  I  began  breeding  tlieni  until  years 
after  I  sold  Mr.  Felch  the  lot  I  had  remaining. 

That  history  of  Mr.  Bishop  will  be  very  useful  to  you,  as  he  gave 
the  first  history  of  the  Plymouth  Eocks. 

The  l<]ssex  strain,  which  I  had  from  the  beginning,  were  bred  in 
.-nid  in  four,  five  or  six  years — being  noted  for  the  time  as  the  Essex 
(\iunty  ytrain,  the  particulars  of  whicli  no  man  can  give  you  as  good 
an  account   as  myself,  which  I  will  do  if  you  will  call  upon  me. 

Let  me  suggest  to  you  to  take  an  early  train  some  morning,  call 
upon  Mr.  Atherton,  get  the  book,  then  take  Electric  Winter  Hill  car 
in  Boston,  which  takes  you  directly  to  Thurston  Street,  where  I  shall 
be  happy  to  see  you  at  any  time  and  give  you  my  remembrance  of  all 
you  wish   to  know. 

I  am  at  home  always  as  I  have  been  an  invalid  many  months  and 
not  able  to  go  out,  and  shall  be  happy  to  make  your  acquaintance. 

Very  sincerely, 

MARK  PIT^rAN. 

June    the    tenth,   nineteen    hundred. 

Per  N.  W.  P. 

THE    MALE    PARENT 

Fortunately,  for  the  reader,  the  male  parentage  is  not  so  un- 
certain. As  Lewis  Wright  states :  "All  agree  that  one  of  the 
parents  was  the  Dominique  fowl."  All  our  American  accounts 
state  that  the  male  parent  of  Spatilding's  cross  was  a  Dominique. 
Furthermore,  it  seems  agreed  that  all  who  attempted  to  create  a 
fowl  after  the  pattern  of  the  Spaulding  stock,  whatever  else  they 
used,  always  used  a  Dominique  male.  This  seems  to  be  univer- 
sally true,  except  in  the  case  of  the  Drake  crosses.  Drake  states : 
"Coming  across  a  lot  of  'hawk-colored  pullets'  I  was  so  pleased 
with  them  that  instead  of  butchering  I  bred  them  with  an  avail- 
able Asiatic  grade."  The  term  "hawk-colored"  used  by  Mr. 
Drake  was  one  that  was  in  common  use  among  the  breeders  of 
Massachusetts  and  Connecticut,  for  which  reason  the  writer  re- 
luctantly applies  the  term  "Dominique"  which  others  have  been 
so  ready  to  do,  because  the  Dominique  of  today  has  a  rose-comb, 
while  the  fowl  used  in  this  original  cross  had,  according  to  all 
accounts,  a  single  comb,  though  it  is  related  that  some  of  them 
had  rose-combs  even  in  those  days.  The  term  "Dominiques," 
though,  gives  the  impression  of  a  rose-comb  fowl  to  nearly 
every  reader,  but  let  it  be  understood  that  the  term  "Dominique" 
as  applied  to  the  male  parent  in  the  Spaulding  cross  was  a  single- 
comb  bird  and  of  an  unknown  origin.  That  there  should  be  so 
much  disagreement  in  regard  to  the  character  of  the  female  and 


<j2  A.Uh'h'JVAX  J'OI  l/rin     \s,s(>('/.\'/l<>\ 

such  thorough  accord  with  respect  to  the  identity  and  character 
of  the  male  parent  is  certainly  remarkably  singular,  to  say  the 
least,  but  the  matter  is  surely  beyond  explanation  now  unless 
the  following  facts  offer  the  solution  of  the  riddle. 

Little  or  nothing  is  known  of  the  origin  of  the  Dominique  and 
in  this  fact.  perhai)s,  lies  the  explanation  of  thorough  agreement 
of  all  our  historians  on  all  questions  involving  that  race.  Some 
accounts  of  the  early  days  of  these  fowls  have  been  written  and 
some  theories  regarding  their  origin  advanced,  but  as  to  the 
latter,  nothing  that  professes  to  be  tangible  has  been  preserved  if, 
indeed,  it  ever  existed.  That  they  must  have  been  very  long 
known  is  evident,  as  a  fairly  extended  account  is  printed  in  Dr. 
Bennett's  Poultry  Book,  1850.  This  account  seems  to  be  the 
foundation  for  all  those  published  for  many  years  afterward. 
With  this  account  we  find  illustrations  of  the  birds  of  George  C. 
Pierce  and  Stephen  Osborn,  Jr.,  of  Danvers,  also  a  statement  of 
costs  of  keeping  and  returns  for  eggs  from  thirty-eight  fowls 
and  the  number  of  eggs  obtained  from  them  during  the  months 
of  December,  1848,  and  January,  February  and  March,  1849. 
which  shows  a  net  profit  and  labor  income  of  $24.83.  which  bears 
out  the  statements  often  made  that  "They  are  first-rate  layers." 
"They  are  said  to  be  from  the  Island  of  Dominca.  but  I  very 
much  doubt  it !"  This  statement  seems  to  be  accompanied  by  no 
more  proof  than  appears  in  the  similarity  of  names. 

The  claim  of  an  English  writer  that  Dominiques  are  the 
result  of  crossing  Scotch  Greys  with  Dorkings  is  certainly  within 
reason.  Other  writers  have  noticed  the  similarity  between  Dork- 
ings and  Dominiques.  Bement  in  the  American  Poulterer's  Com- 
panion, pages  121  and  122,  writes  as  follows: 

DOMINIQUE    FOWL 

"This  well-known  variety  of  our  domestic  fowl,  there  is  good 
reason  to  believe,  is  old  and  distinct,  though  it  is  generally 
looked  upon  as  a  mere  'farm-yard  fowl' ;  that  is,  the  accidental 
result  of  promiscuous  crossing ;  but  there  are  several  forms 
among  the  farm-yard  fowls,  so-called,  that  are  seen  to  be  re- 
peated generation  after  generation,  the  counterparts  of  which  are 
to  be  met  with,  scattered  here  and  there,  over  this  country.  So 
constant  repetition  of  corresponding  features  would  seem  to  de- 
clare that  there  are  several  unnoticed  and  undistinguished  vari- 
eties of  fowls  which  deserve  to  be  regarded  and  treated  as  we  do 
other  distinct  varieties. 


I'LYMoirii  h'och  sTWDAin)   \\i>  iiia:f]j>  hook  or? 

"The  Dominique  fowl,  well  selected  and  carefully  l)red,  is  a 
fine  and  useful  bird.  They  are  distinguished  as  Dominique  by 
their  markings  and  their  color,  which  is  generally  considered  as 
indication  of  hardiness  and  fecundity.  They  are  by  some  called 
'Hawk-colored  fowls,'  from  their  strong  resemblance  in  color  to 
the  birds  of  that  name.  In  England  they  are  usually  called 
'Cuckoo  fowls,'  from  the  fancied  resemblance  of  their  plumage 
to  the  feathers  on  the  cuckoo's  breast.  We  seldom  see  bad  hens 
of  this  variety,  and,  take  them  'all-in-all,'  we  do  not  hesitate  in 
pronouncing  them  one  of  the  best  and  most  profitable  fowls, 
being  hardy,  good  layers,  careful  nurses,  and  affording  excellent 
eggs  and  first  quality  of  flesh. 

"In  any  close  grouping  of  the  Ijreeds  of  poultry,  the  Domi- 
nique fowl  might  perhaps  be  safely  referred  to  the  Dorkings. 
Some  of  the  slate-colored,  barred  Dorkings  are  scarcely  distin- 
guished from  them,  except  by  the  fifth  toe ;  still  there  is  some- 
thing very  permanent  and  remarkable  in  the  peculiar  style  of 
plumage  that  ought  not  to  be  lost  sight  of.  It  is  with  difficulty 
got  rid  of  by  crossing.  Half-bred  Spanish  and  Dorking  fowls 
have  quite  retained  the  barred  and  shaded  feathers  of  the  one 
parent,  displaying  the  comb,  ear-lobe  and  stature  of  the  other. 
And  this  curious  and  decided  plumage  is  quite  confined  to  one  or 
two  breeds,  never  appearing,  that  we  are  aware,  in  others,  such 
as  the  Game,  the  Malays,  and  the  Hamburgs  ;  a  circumstance 
which  makes  us  believe  it  to  indicate  an  ancient  descent  from 
some  peculiar  and  original  parentage. 

"The  prevailing  and  true  color  of  the  Dominique  fowl  is  a 
light  ground,  undulated  and  softly  shaded  with  a  slaty-blue  all 
over  the  body,  as  indicated  in  the  portrait  of  the  cock,  forming- 
bands  of  various  widths.  In  order  to  be  more  fully  and  better 
understood,  and  to  show  the  peculiar  markings  of  the  feathers, 
we  procured  a  feather  from  one  of  the  hens,  which  is  faithfully 
delineated  on  the  opposite  page.  The  comb  of  the  cock  is  vari- 
able, some  being  single,  while  others  are  doul^le — most,  however, 
are  single ;  the  iris,  bright  orange ;  feet  and  legs  light  flesh  color 
■ — some,  however,  are  of  a  bright  yellow  or  buff  color ;  bill  the 
same  color  as  the  legs. 

"The  hens  are  not  large,  but  plump  and  full  breasted.  The 
cocks  are  somewhat  larger  than  the  hens,  some  approaching  the 
smaller  sized  Dorkings  in  weight.  The  chickens  at  two  or  three 
months  old  exhibit  the  l)arre(l  ])lumage  even  more  perfectly  than 
the  full-grown  birds. 


94  AMIJUK'.W  J'OI  l/l'h'Y  ASSOC fATJON 

In  the  foregoing,  Bement  cither  accepts  the  English  writer's 
viewpoint  or  from  his  own  observations  has  come  to  the  same 
conckisions.  The  similarity  to  the  Dorkings  is  brought  to  the 
reader's  attention  and  the  possibiities  of  a  Spanish-Dorking 
cross  as  the  possible  source  of  origin  is  intimated. 

The  Rev.  D.  D.  Bishop,  whose  work  is  heretofore  several 
times  referred  to,  and  is  very  thoughtful  throughout,  presents  a 
theory  of  origin  that  is  not  merely  possible,  but  quite  probable. 
On  pages  5  and  6  we  find  related  a  seemingly  natural  method  of 
origin,  the  truth  of  which  is  not  at  all  unlikely,  hence  we  reprint : 

"That  the  bird  known  by  the  name  of  Plymouth  Rock  should 
have  made  its  appearance  about  that  time.  1866  to  1870,  was 
inevitable. 

"The  conditions  were  favorable.  It  was  at  the  time  of  re- 
action from  the  furore  for  simply  big  birds,  when  farmer  folk 
were  discussing  among  themselves  the  failure  of  the  mammoth 
Asiatics  to  fill  the  bill  for  both  eggs  and  marketing.  They  con- 
sumed both  too  much  time  and  feed  in  their  growth.  They 
failed  as  foragers  for  want  of  activity.  They  were  the  reverse 
of  precocious  in  their  development.  The  old-fashioned  dung- 
hill was  too  small.     There  was  equal  dissatisfaction  with  both. 

"The  first  result  was  the  throwing  of  whatever  Asiatic  came 
to  hand — Shanghaes,  Brahmas,  Cochins — what  not — at  random 
into  the  barnyard  flocks,  to  mix  indiscriminately  with  a  lot  of 
birds  that  had  suffered  that  kind  of  breeding,  if  that  could  be 
called  breeding,  for  a  generation  or  more. 

"The  next  step  in  the  process  was  that  the  more  thoughtful 
or  fanciful  began  to  pick  out  the  colors  that  suited  their  indi- 
vidual notions.  Various  farmers  had  local  reputations  for  the 
excellence  of  their  white  hens,  or  red  hens,  or  whatever  color 
they  might  have  chosen. 

"Perhaps  the  most  widely  diffused  of  what  might  have  been 
called  a  native  stock  was  even  then  known  as  'old-fashioned,' 
'hawk-colored'  fowls.  Their  dispersion  over  a  wide  extent  of 
country  was  Ijrought  about  by  two  causes.  First,  their  mark- 
ings were  much  more  distinct  and  uniform  than  any  of  the  mixed 
colors,  so  that  by  original  vital  strength  the  color  was  carried 
wherever  a  drop  of  the  blood  foimd  its  way.  Secondly,  they 
proved  to  be  hardy,  matured  rapidly  and  so  came  quickly  to  use- 
fulness as  broilers,  egg  producers  or  for  marketing  purposes. 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  f^TAXDAh'I)  AM)  ]! I,'i:i:i>  HOOK  05 

They  were  not  so  much  exposed  to  the  ravages  of  hawks,  and 
farmers  thought  much  of  that.  The  hawk  could  not  see  them  so 
plainly,  and  the  mother  hen  was  almost  as  sharp  of  eye  as  her 
enemy  in  the  air. 

"Another  point  should  not  be  overlooked,  namely,  the  facility 
which  was  manifested  by  this  stock  to  assimilate  the  dash  of 
Asiatic  blood  so  as  to  make  it  a  genuine  infusion.  In  other 
words,  the  cross  by  Asiatics  made  'a  hit'  upon  the  said  old- 
fashioned,  hawk-colored  birds,  so  that  they  reproduced  them- 
selves, throwing  comparatively  few  reverts,  and  furnishing  at 
once  the  basis  upon  which  to  build  a  breed." 

That  the  natural  course  of  events  following  the  general  dis- 
aj)[)ointment  in  the  large  Asiatic  fowl  was  to  throw  them  into  the 
scrap  heap  in  the  nature  of  the  mongrel  farm  yard  flock  cannot 
be  questioned.  There  could  be  no  other  place  found  for  them 
unless  it  be  the  butcher's  cart  and  all  Asiatics  would  be  no  more 
likely  to  be  thus  condemned  than  all  mongrels.  Many  mongrels 
survived,  so  did  many  Asiatics. 

It  must  be  remembered  that  this  was  a  time  when  fowls  were 
expected  to  shift  for  themselves  and  pick  up  a  living.  It  was 
])efore  the  days  of  henhouses  and  discussions  as  to  glass  fronts, 
open  sheds  and  southern  exposures.  A  clump  of  trees,  a  cluster 
of  bushes,  or  some  nook  among  a  group  of  farm  buildings  was 
all  the  shelter  furnished.  Under  such  conditions  the  ancestors 
of  Plymouth  Rocks  learned  to  thrive.  It  was  a  game  in  which 
the  survival  of  the  fittest  played  the  all-important  part  and  won. 
These  conditions  lasting  for  generation  after  generation,  together 
with  the  infusions  of  foreign  blood  that  have  been  from  time  to 
time  introduced,  account  for  the  hardy  character  of  this  fowl. 

Through  some  process  hawk-colored  fowls  came  into  exist- 
ence. How,  no  one  can  definitely  say,  but  it  is  more  probable 
that  this  was  a  process  of  reincarnation  rather  than  one  of  mix- 
ing two-color  types  of  plumage,  creating  a  third  and  entirely 
different  color  type.  This  line  of  reasoning  fits  in  well  with  the 
theory  of  a  foundation  of  Scotch-Grey  blood  which,  as  one 
author.  Mr.  F.  L.  Sewell,  puts  it.  "The  Scotch-Grey  fowls  of 
North  Britain  can  perhaps  throw  some  light  on  the  origin  of 
the  American  Dominique.  If  this  very  old  race  of  'Cuckoo- 
colored'  chickens  are  not  the  ancestors  of  our  early  Dominiques, 
we  must  confess  that  we  have  as  yet  failed  to  discover  them. 
They  are  the  nearest  to  the  type  of  our  old  Dominique  of  any 
European  race  of  fowl." 


;m;  .i.i//;A'/r.i  \  I'oi  i/iin    \ss<K'i\ri(f\ 

Such,  then,  is  the  parentage  of  tlie  two  component  races  that 
were  successfuUy  amalgamated  to  create  a  third  race,  which 
proved  to  be  epoch-making,  for  l)y  its  creation  pouhry  cidture 
ceased  to  be  the  one-feature  possibiHty  that  it  had  always  been 
and  became  at  once  a  full  and  well-rounded  enterprise  with  com- 
mercial and  economic  possibilities.  In  other  words,  the  poultry- 
men  had  found  their  Rosetta  stone,  the  poultry  business  its  Foun- 
tain of  Eternal  Youth. 


THE  EARLY  DAYS  OF  THE  NEW  BREED 

The  reception  that  these  fowls  were  accorded  was  startling. 
Entered  and  exhil^ited  as  a  novelty  at  the  most  they  became  the 
chief  attraction  of  the  show.  Other  exhibits  were  little  more 
than  noticed.  The  idea  of  an  American  fowl  appealed  to  the 
rank  and  file  of  American  poultrymen.  An  introduction  to  poul- 
trydom  was  all  that  was  necessary  to  establish  the  position  of 
Plymouth  Rocks  among  American  poultrymen.  The  long  looked 
for  dual  purpose  fowl,  occupying  the  middle  ground  between 
the  slowly  maturing  and  heavy  Asiatic  and  early  maturing  but 
light  Mediterraneans,  had  arrived  and  the  warmth  of  their  wel- 
come exceeded  in  degree  the  eagerness  with  which  a  fowd  that 
would  excel  in  egg  producing  and  flesh  producing  qualities  had 
been  sought. 

The  experts  examined  them  minutely  and  discussed  their 
merits  and  demerits  most  profoundly.  They  prophesied  futures 
according  to  their  individual  views.  That  their  views  differed 
widely  would  not  excite  amusement  even  in  this  day  after  years 
of  popular  approval.  They,  in  part,  undoubtedly  deserved  the 
epitaph  bestowed  upon  them  by  one  noted  authority,  who  pro- 
nounced them  d — d  mongrels,  which  appellation  needs  but  a 
slight  alteration  to  become  "The  Great  American  Mongrel,"  by 
which  unique  and  expressive  title  they  soon  became  known.  The 
opinion  implied  by  the  term  applied  at  the  time  by  the  one  expert 
was  not  that  of  all,  however.  Mark  Pitman,  for  luany  years  one 
of  the  most  experienced  and  api)reciative  of  ])oultry  fanciers, 
thought  so  much  of  them  that  he  purchased  one  of  the  trios  ex- 
hibited for  his  patron,  C.  Carol  Loring,  of  Boston  and  Dedham, 
IMassachusetts,  who,  like  Mr.  Pitman,  was  for  a  lifetime  an 
ardent  admirer  of  beautiful  fowls  of  many  breeds  and  varieties. 
(  hw.  too,  was  sold  to  (■a])tain  V.\-du<  of  Manchester,  New  Ilanii)- 


I'LYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  97 

shire.  Mr.  Upham  sold  over  one  hundred  settings  of  eggs  during 
this  show.  When  faced  by  these  facts  it  is  apparent  that  Plym- 
outh Rocks  won  public  approval  almost  instantly.  With  the 
poultry  interested  public,  it  was  and  henceforth  has  been  a  case 
of  love  at  first  sight.  Mr.  Upham  was  astounded  at  the  price  he 
found  customers  willing  to  pay  for  an  unheard-of  mongrel,  as 
two  dollars  per  setting  was  the  price  at  which  he  sold  the  eggs, 
though  he  was  obliged  to  return  much  of  it  because  orders  were 
more  numerous  than  eggs  the  following  season. 

Mr.  Upham  could  not  sell  his  l>irds  and  maintain  a  monopoly 
at  one  and  the  same  time.  Besides,  new  strains  of  like  or  similar 
fowls  might  have  been  created  had  he  not  sold.  No  doubt  many 
"original"  imitations  did  materialize  as  it  was.  In  fact,  we  have 
more  than  one  clear  and  authentic  account  of  one  strain,  so 
created,  that  obtained  considerable  prominence.  Several  strains 
soon  developed.  Besides  the  Upham,  there  were  the  Ramsdell, 
the  Drake,  the  Oilman  and  the  Essex  County,  later  the  Essex. 
We  should  not  quite  yet  covmt  out  the  Spaulding  strain,  for  many 
still  i^rocured  birds  from  that  source. 

The  Spaulding  Strain. — We  kncjw  thai  the  Spauldings  con- 
tinued breeding  these  birds  for  some  years  because  we  hnd  refer- 
ences of  this  one  or  that  one  having  procured  their  birds  from 
them;  as  "such  a  strain  is  largely  of  Spaulding's  stock,  etc." 
Upham  and  Bishop  tell  us  that  the  Spauldings  bred  largely  for 
eggs  as  a  commercial  commodity.  P'rom  the  lack  of  information 
to  the  contrary  it  seems  probable  that  they  continued  breeding 
the  progeny  of  the  original  cross.  They  had,  at  the  smallest  cal- 
culations, the  intense  satisfaction  of  having  laid  the  foundation 
for  a  structure  that  would  endure  as  the  best  of  its  kind  for  gen- 
erations and  of  having  those  progressive  pioneers,  Upham  and 
Ramsdell,  start  with  their  original  stock. 

The  Upham  Strain. — Mr.  Upham  maintained  a  supremacy  of 
quality  in  Plymouth  Rocks  for  a  number  of  years.  Of  this 
strain,  Mark  Pitman  said :  "About  everything  that  was  good  in 
these  times  came  from  Upham."  Such  tribute  coming  from  a 
successful  contemporary  is  as  much  as  need  be  spoken  or  written 
of  the  ([uality  of  Mr.  Upham's  Plymouth  Rocks.  Mr.  Upham 
relates  that  he  had  no  particular  hobl)y.  The  poultry  business 
was  a  considerable  item  in  his  business  transactions.  His  aim 
was  to  produce  a  taking  fowl.  Such  a  fowl  must  have  size  and 
distinct  markings.  In  that  stage  of  development  males  and 
females  of  anything   like  the  same  shade  were  rarely,  if  ever, 


!)8  .l.l//;7.'/r  lA    I'OI  l.'/in      \ss<)CIAT/()\ 

produced.  .\s  Mr.  L'phani  has  told  us,  uiost  of  the  females  of 
the  first  cross  were  l)lack  and  only  a  few  were  gray,  or  steel- 
colored,  to  use  Mr.  Uphani's  term.  Males  that  showed  color 
enough  to  give  any  character  to  their  plumage  were  almost  as 
scarce.  Mr.  Upham's  particular  desire  was  to  produce  the  steel- 
colored  females,  as  most  of  them  seemed  to  come  very  dark  and 
even  black.  He,  like  others,  soon  realized  that  his  task  was  to 
produce  males  and  females  of  the  same  shade  of  color.  Even  the 
breeders  of  the  present  day  have  found  that  only  by  the  most 
persistent  and  painstaking  efforts  can  this  be  accom|)lished,  and 
they  have  also  the  advantages  accruing  frcjm  the  inlieritance  of 
years  of  l)reeding  for  that  particular  character. 

Aside  from  such  very  fundamental  cjualities  as  size,  shape, 
health,  vigor  and  the  like,  this  recjuirement  that  males  and 
females  should  be  of  the  same  shade  of  color  became  predomi- 
nant very  early  in  the  life  of  the  breed  and  has  remained  so  ;  and 
while  that  fact  may  have  been  lost  sight  of  in  comparati\ely 
recent  years,  it  is  merely  because  of  its  correspondingly  i)erfe-:t 
accomplishment.  Faihu'e  to  com])ly  with  this  demand  will  :it  any 
period  before  long  result  in  agitation  for  its  enforcement. 

"Males  and  females  must  match  in  the  show  pen"  became  the 
slogan  most  often  rej.eated  very  soon  after  the  breeding  of 
Plymouth  Rocks  became  general.  Results  came  slowly  at  first 
because  the  breeding  of  Dominiciue  color  was  not  understood. 
To  accomplish  this  mr.st  difficult  task,  breeders  studied,  ex])eri- 
mented,  and  observed.  To  acc()mi)lish  this,  systems  then  new 
were  disco\ered,  among  them,  single  matings,  intermediate 
matings,  extreme  matings,  double  and  special  matings.  All  these 
systems  of  matings  except  the  first,  were  thought  out  originally 
and  practiced  primarily  to  produce  both  sexes  of  Plymouth 
Rocks  of  the  same  shade.  The  application  of  these  principles 
to  obtain  other  objects  in  Plymouth  Rocks  and  to  the  breeding 
of  other  breeds  and  varieties  came  about  later.  The  great,  all- 
absorbing  desire  to  match  the  color  in  male  and  female  Plymouth 
Rocks  was  the  incentive  which  led  to  tlieir  discovery. 

The  Ramsdell  Strain. — This  was  one  of  the  earliest  strains 
and  because  of  the  time  of  its  beginning  and  the  source  of 
origin  was  more  nearly  contemporary  with  the  Upham  strain 
than  any  of  the  other  earlv  strains.  Also,  because  of  its  loca- 
tion it  was  for  a  time  more  of  a  rival.  1"he  source  of  his  stock 
was  undoubtedly  Spaulding,  as  Mr.  Ramsdell  writes  "  .  .  .  . 
which  is  situated  about  a  mile  from  mv  own.     1  was  intimately 


I'LYMOI  TH  ROCK  STAXDARD  AXD  BREED  BOOK  1)9 

acquainted  with  Mr.  S ."     Taking-  that  statement  as  a  fact. 

it  was  natural  for  Mr.  Ramsdell  or  any  one  that  was  fond  of 
fowls  to  try  out  some  of  this  new  cross.  We  tind,  no  record  of 
Mr.  Ramsdell  exhibiting  very  often,  but  we  do  see  accounts  of 
his  selling  birds,  which  indicates  that  he  was  a  factor  in  the  de- 
velopment of  the  breed,  but  putting  the  two  facts  together  it 
seems  not  improbable  that  he  was  like  Spaulding  particularly 
interested  in  the  commercial  side  of  poultry  culture,  though  on 
a  smaller  scale,  Mr.  Ramsdell  ])eing  a  clergyman. 

The  Drake  Strain. — Forced  by  the  circumstance  of  poor 
healtli,  it  was  necessary  for  the  originator  of  this  strain  to  make 
his  living  from  his  sales  of  poultry,  to  sell  his  creations  rather 
than  buy  the  creations  of  others  ;  especially,  as  fashionable  novel- 
ties in  poultry,  as  in  every  other  product,  usually  command 
prices  which  it  is  to  one  advantage  to  receive  rather  than  to  give. 
Drake  strove  to  breed  and  rear  specimens  that  could  compete 
successfully  for  the  remunerative  business  that  fell  to  Upham, 
Ramsdell  and  Spaulding.  The  purchase  of  a  large  number  oi 
birds  was  out  of  the  question  ;  a  few  would  not  produce  sufficient 
numbers  ;  certainly  it  was  not  necessary  to  purchase  if  he  could 
devise  a  plan  of  breeding  with  results  that  were  apparently  the 
same.  This,  we  judge  from  all  available  accounts,  he  was  able 
to  do.  Some  years  ago  the  writer  obtained  from  Mark  Pitman 
an  account  of  his  visit  to  Mr.  Drake's  place.  Mr.  Pitman  said: 
"We  saw  no  Plymouth  Rocks  at  all ;  we  did  see  hawk-colored 
fowls,  White  Cochins  and  Light  Brahmas. — It  was  late  in  the 
Fall,  and  as  all  we  saw  were  old  fowl,  we  concluded  that  the 
Hawk-colored  fowl,  crossed  with  Light  Brahmas  or  White 
Cochin,  were  the  parents  of  Drake's  Plymouth  Rocks.  This  view 
of  the  question  coincides  very  well  with  that  taken  by  Mr.  V. 
C.  Gilman  of  Nashua.  N.  H..  whose  early  stock  was  largely  of 
the  Drake  strain.  Mr.  Gilman  relates  that  he  became  acquainted 
with  Mr.  Drake  and  found  him  an  intelligent  and  honorable 
gentleman  of  delicate  health,  but  a  thorough  fancier.  He  never 
volunteered  information  as  to  how  he  came  into  possession  of 
his  first  stock  that  Mr.  Gilman  remembered.  Mr.  Gilman  relates 
further  that  he  was  told  by  a  neighbor  while  he  was  there  that 
Drake  started  his  strain  with  Hawk-colored  hens  and  an  Asiatic 
male  bird.  This  statement  Mr.  Gilman  apparently  credited,  as 
he  says :  "I  know  it  was  a  feature  in  his  breeding  to  produce 
male  birds  after  the  Brahma  style."  From  the  foregoing  there 
appears  little  reason  to  doubt  that  Mr.  Drake  did  produce  Ply- 
mouth Rocks  by  crossing  the  Hawk-colored  fowl,  or  Dominique, 


100  AMERICAN  POILTRY  AHSOCIATION 

reader,  if  you  like,  with  Light  Brahmas  and  White  Cochins, 
not  exactly  as  Mr.  Spaulding  produced  his  strain,  but  very  simi- 
larly, as  it  is  still  a  cross  of  Hawk-colored  fowl  and  Asiatic. 
From  this  fact,  that  his  stock  gave  excellent  satisfaction,  cer- 
tainly as  far  as  we  can  learn,  it  is  fair  to  assume  that  it  must 
have  progressed  beyond  the  stage  of  a  first  cross,  otherwise  it 
would  have  been  unreliable  in  other  hands.  This  does  not  seem 
to  have  been  the  case.  Besides  Mr.  Gilman,  William  Haywood 
bred  the  Drake  strain  for  a  number  of  years  with  good  results, 
and  is  said  to  have  been  a  better  and  more  careful  breeder  than 
the  originator  of  the  strain.  Not  many  years  ago,  a  number  of 
breeders  who  remembered  the  Drake  stock  could  be  found  and 
some  of  them  had  this  blood  in  their  stock.  They  describe  the 
Drake  birds  as  very  large,  very  dark,  and  very  much  inclined 
to  feathers  or  stubs  on  their  shanks* and  toes. 

Despite  this  afifliction,  Mr.  Drake  was  quite  successful  in 
building  up  a  strain  of  Plymouth  Rock  that  was  both  meritorious 
and  popular.  Had  he  not  been  entirely  dependent  upon  the  poul- 
try business  for  support,  besides  being  afflicted  with  delicate 
health,  his  success  would  undoubtedly  have  been  even  more 
marked. 

The  Gilman  Strain. — From  an  early  circular,  distributed  by 
Mr.  (iilman,  we  quote  the  following,  which  will  give  a  very  clear 
idea  of  the  status  of  Plymouth  Rocks  at  that  time: 

"My  first  purchase  of  these  fowls,  Plymouth  Rocks,  was  based 
on  fancy  alone.  I  saw  them  and  they  pleased  me  at  once,  and 
I  bought  and  bred  them  beside  my  Dominiques  and  Hamburgs. 

"As  a  breed  they  were  comparatively  unknown,  although 
Mr.  Upham  had  exhibited  specimens  at  the  exhibition  of  the  N. 
E.  Poultry  Club,  at  Worcester,  a  year  or  two  before. 

"I  could  learn  nothing  of  the  pedigree  of  my  first  purchase, 
whether  Drake  or  Upham  or  neither,  but  by  reason  of  their  good 
behavior,  they  soon  became  the  favorites  of  my  poultry  yards 
and  I  disposed  of  all  others  and  made  them  a  specialty. 

"In  1872  I  Ijought  a  fine  pair  of  my  own  selection  of  Mr. 
Drake,  paying  him  $20.00,  a  high  price  at  that  time.  I  regis- 
tered the  male  bird  in  the  Poultry  World  Pedigree  Record  as 
'Champion,'  854. 


I'L i  M O U'J 'II  R O VK  t^TANDAh'lt  . I  A  / >   /.' /.' />' i: It  HOOK  101 

"I  also  procured  a  fine,  light-colored  cockerel  of  what  was 
then  known  as  Ramsdell's  strain.  I  mated  these  males  with 
specimens  bred  from  my  first  purchase.  The  result  presented 
quite  a  diversity  in  form,  color  and  markings.  Proper  selections 
and  matings  made  speedy  improvement,  for  the  breed  was  in  a 
formative  state,  and  like  clay  in  the  hands  of  the  potter. 

"Still  the  shape  was  not  entirely  satisfactory.  Mr.  Drake's 
principle  in  breeding  them,  if  I  interpreted  it  correctly,  was  to 
produce  hens  of  Cochin  form  and  cock  of  Brahma  form,  thus 
perpetuating  a  disparity  in  shape  between  the  sexes,  which  did 
not  commend  itself  to  my  judgment.  To  overcome  this  tendency 
in  his  strain,  I  procured  some  of  the  'h^ssex  Co.'  strain,  whicli 
was  bred  so  successfully  by  Mr.  Mark  Pitman,  and  by  the  in- 
troduction of  this  last  factor  to  my  already  improved  form,  I 
have  solved  the  problem  of  shape  and  size  of  the  Plymouth 
Rock  to  my  own  satisfaction,  and  their  growing  popularity,  I 
think,  warrants  me  in  believing  to  the  satisfaction  also  of  the  host 
of  admirers  of  this  very  valuable  breed." 

The  Essex  County  Strain. — This  was  originated  by  Mark  Pit- 
man of  Salem,  Mass..  who  had  been  for  several  years  well  known 
for  his  interest  and  achievements  in  the  poultry  world.  The 
same  Mark  Pitman,  who  so  quickly  recognized  the  possibilities 
of  the  new  variety  that  he  purchased  one  of  the  trios  and  turned 
it  over  to  C.  Carol  Loring,  heretofore  mentioned,  who  was  very 
much  interested  in  poultry  and  who  has  remained  so  all  his 
life,  took  up  the  breeding  of  the  new  fowls,  the  merits  of  which 
he  was  one  of  the  first  among  experienced  breeders  to  acknowl- 
edge. From  the  very  beginning  he  began  to  develop  a  strain, 
the  individuals  of  which  conformed  to  certain  well-defined  ideas 
of  the  originator  which  were  somewhat  advanced  for  those  days. 
Mr.  Pitman  did  not  look  at  the  plumage  of  the  Barred  Ply- 
mouth Rock  as  a  unit.  In  other  words,  he  saw  more  than  a  gray 
fowl  or  a  gray  chicken.  He  analyzed  the  plumage  of  each 
feather  and  studied  carefully  the  effects  of  different  shades  of 
both  the  light  and  dark  bars,  for  he  early  found  that  a  Ply- 
mouth Rock  needed  bars  to  be  attractive.  He  soon  decided  that 
as  far  as  he  was  concerned  those  birds  that  showed  the  greatest 
contrast  between  the  light  and  dark  bars  were  the  most  hand- 
some birds.  Less  importance  was  attached  to  the  "blue"  haze, 
that  the  plumage  of  many  specimens  displayed  in  certain  light 
reflections  and  which  so  many  breeders  laid  so  much  stress  upon 
and  some  do  even  to  this  dav,  bv  Mr.  Pitman  than  to  clear  and 


1(11'  AMIJh'IC.W    I'OI  l/l'U)    ASSOCIATION 

well-defined  bars,  such  as  sharply  contrasting  colors  de\elop. 
Though  he  did  not  neglect  other  qualities,  as  he  was  too  keen 
and  too  experienced  a  fancier  for  that,  Mr.  Pitman  probably  did 
make  a  greater  efifort  to  produce  attractive  plumage  than  any 
breeder  who  was  contemporary  with  him. 

In  this  undertaking  we  assume  Mr.  Pitman  was  successful 
because  the  strain  soon  became  known  as  one  that  was  very 
strong  in  color.  From  which  fact  we  learn  that  the  early  breed- 
ers had  not  become  able  to  distinguish  between  color  and  barring 
or  to  understand  just  how  it  was  that  the  individual  specimens 
of  the  Essex  County  strain,  as  it  was  known  then,  excelled  in 
color. 

Mr.  Pitman  secured  his  stock  by  purchase  from  two  persons. 
One  was  a  Mr.  Lord,  who  had  secured  a  trio  of  Mr.  Upham 
through  O.  M.  Ives  of  Salem.  Mr.  Lord  bred  from  one  of  the 
two  females  only.  From  Mr.  Lord,  Mr.  Pitman  secured  five 
pullets  and  a  cockerel.  Another  pullet  was  procured  from  Mr. 
Loring.  This  was  from  the  two  bought  of  Mr.  Upham.  All  the 
Pitman  birds  were  then  of  the  Upham  strain.  To  these  birds 
Mr.  Pitman  pays  the  following  tribute  :  "Had  not  the  pair  which 
Mr.  Lord  bred  from  been  so  nice,  or  had  not  the  five  pullets  I 
secured  from  him  been  so  excellent.  undoulHedly  I  would  not 
have  obtained  the  uniformity  in  my  flock  that  I  did."  In  making 
this  remark  Mr.  Pitman  clearly  shows  that  he  understood  prin- 
ciples of  selection  and  line  breeding,  so  much  relied  upon  at  the 
present  time  and  supposed  to  be  a  step  in  advance  of  the  ordi- 
nary breeder  even  of  the  present  day.  Of  the  Upham  pair  which 
Lord  bred  from  he  had,  years  afterward,  a  keen  recollection. 
The  birds  he  praised  enthusiastically.  The  cockerel,  in  partic- 
ular, left  a  picture  in  his  mind  that  age  did  not  fade  nor  time 
erase. 

Mr.  Pitman  had  undoubtedly  had  more  experience  in  breed- 
ing, judging  and  handling  high  class  fancy  poultry  than  any  of 
the  breeders  of  Plymouth  Rocks  up  to  that  time  and  long  after- 
wards. It  is  to  be  regretted  that  circumstances  compelled  him  to 
dispose  of  his  flock,  though  fortunately  it  fell  into  the  best  of 
hands.  It  is  the  writer's  recollection  that  it  was  a  contract  for 
lighting,  at  or  during  the  Philadelphia  Centennial,  that  compelled 
him  to  sojourn  for  a  year  in  that  city.  For  this  reason  he  felt 
compelled  to  dispose  of  his  flock  which  then,  in  1876,  came  into 
the  hands  of  Mr.  I.  K.  Felch,  of  Natick,  Massachusetts,  recently 
deceased,  and  who  is  often  referred  to  as  one  of  the  foremost 


/'LYMOI  Til   ROCK   SlWIiARh  AM)    liliKEh   IIOOK  W.'. 

poultrynien  of  his  genertaion.  Soon  afterwards  they  became 
known  simply  as  the  Essex  strain  and  l)y  that  name  they  have 
been  known  ever  since. 

The  Essex  Strain. — Tliis,  as  stated  above,  was  appHed  by 
Mr.  Felch.  The  best  of  the  Pitman  stock  came  into  the  hands 
of  Mr.  H.  B.  May  of  the  same  town.  Probably  at  first  Mr.  May 
was  simply  breeding"  for  or  in  accordance  with  some  business 
arrangements  with  Mr.  Felch.  At  some  subsequent  time,  just 
when,  the  writer  cannot  say,  Mr.  May  began  to  breed  Plymouth 
Rocks  independently  and  continued  for  many  years  to  be  one  of 
the  closest  students  and  best  judges  of  the  original  variety. 
Without  doubt  the  Essex  strain  was  more  sought  and  more 
extensi\ely  bred  than  any  other  and  especially  certain  is  the  fact 
that  the  May-Essex  family  was  more  sought  than  any  other 
family  of  that  popular  strain. 

llie  historv  of  this  family,  or  strain,  is  interesting  Ijecause  of 
the  excellent  quality  of  many  of  its  best  representatives,  but  even 
more  so  because  of  the  historic  crosses  involved.  It  has  been 
well  known  that  at  some  time  subsequent  to  their  first  public 
appearance,  Pl}-mouth  Rocks  have  been  crossed  with  Light 
Brahma,  to  clear  the  colors  as  it  were  ;  thus,  not  only  attempt- 
ing to  carry  out  the  idea  of  Mark  Pitman,  but  also  attempting 
to  improve  on  the  Pitman  method  of  selection  and  line-l)reeding, 
from  wdiich  outcrossing  certainly  differs  widely.  The  results  of 
this  cross  have  l:)een  heralded  far  and  wide  as  wonderfully  suc- 
cessful, yet  Mr.  May  told  the  writer  in  so  many  words,  that  the 
cross  did  not  amount  to  anything ;  that  all  the  progeny  after  a 
very  few  generations  found  their  way  to  market.  In  short,  this 
attempt  resulted  as  most  attempts  to  cross  two  bloods  of  widely 
different  temperaments  do.  in  so  complete  a  disintegration  that 
little  of  the  good  in  either  remains. 

Mr.  May,  b.owever,  was  not  any  better  satisfied  with  his  orig- 
inal Plymouth  Rocks  than  before  he  made  this  cross.  The 
reason  for  his  dissatisfaction  was  based  upon  the  weak  constitu- 
tions of  the  individuals  of  this  breed  in  general  and  their  weak 
disease  resisting  qualities.  Dealers  in  poultry  remedies,  accord- 
ing to  Mr.  May,  were  making  good  livings,  if  not  comfortable 
fortunes,  selling  their  wares  to  the  breeders  of  Plymouth  Rocks. 
This  state  of  things  Mr.  May  thought  neither  creditable  nor  nec- 
essary, but  the  remedy  did  not  at  once  appear.  Later,  while 
traveling  in  Canada,  Mr.  May  caught  sight  of  a  male  that  pleased 


104  AMJJ/x'lCAX   f'OI  l/rh'Y    l.WOr'/  1770A' 

liini  immensely.  His  pleasing  parts  were  not  his  plumage,  rather 
to  the  contrary — that  was  against  him — but  he  displayed  life 
and  vigor  in  every  move.  It  instantly  occurred  to  Mr.  Alay  that 
this  was  the  identical  bird  to  tone  up  his  Plymouth  Rocks. 
Besides  evincing  strong  constitutional  vigor  this  bird  had  size 
and  weight,  a  deep  breast  and  yellow  legs.  These  were  (pialities 
that  are  desired  in  I^lymouth  Rocks.  The  bird  would  probably 
be  classed  as  a  grade  Game  or  cross-bred  Game.  This  bird  was 
purchased  and  bred.  Three  years  after  the  cross  was  made  all 
visible  defects  resulting  therefrom  had  disappeared.  The  quali- 
ties that  were  infused  were  long  bodies  and  long  keel  bones,  close 
feathering,  red  eyes  and  very  solid  flesh,  and  these  were  features 
of  the  ]\Iay-Kssex  strain  for  years  afterwards. 

The  Name. — Both  Mr.  Upham  and  Mr.  Ramsdell  claim  to 
have  named  this  new  fowl.  As  we  have  noticed  from  the  articles 
of  each,  already  quoted,  whichever  deser\es  the  credit  deserves 
not  so  much  for  originality,  as  it  was  undoubtedly  suggested  by 
the  old-time  fowl  of  the  same  name,  created  by  Dr.  Bennett. 
Mr.  Upham  really  gave  the  bird  its  name  as  he  was  the  first  to 
show  them,  and  l)y  so  doing  he  exploited  the  name  as  well  as 
the  fowl.  Mr.  l'])ham  frankly  admitted  that  he  thought  the 
name  a  good  one,  and  that  while  he  had  heard  the  name  fre- 
(luently.  he  had  not  seen  the  fowl,  but  to  distinguish  between 
them  and  the  Bennett  creation,  lest  some  should  still  be  in  exist- 
ence, he  exhibited  his  first  trios  under  the  name  of  Improved 
Plymouth  Rocks. 

\'ery  few  of  us  who  breed  Barred  Plymouth  Rocks  today  saw 
the  early  birds,  and  probably  none  of  us  saw  the  very  first  trios 
shown  by  Mr.  Upham.  Curiosity  is  ever  alive  wherein  our 
interest  lies,  and  what  would  we  not  give  for  a  photograph  or 
for  feathers  from  some  of  the  best  earlv  birds?  As  these  things 
are  beyond  our  reach,  we  cannot  do  better  than  to  substitute 
mental  images  made  by  the  words  of  those  who  saw  and  reared 
these  birds.  The  birds  shown  at  Worcester,  two  trios  of  chicks 
and  one  of  fowls,  are  naturally  the  ones  we  think  of  first.  Of 
course,  Mr.  Upham  says  the  chicks  were  a  much  better  match  for 
color  than  the  fowls.  They  were  about  the  size  of  the  standard 
weight  specimens  nowadays. 

Of  the  Upham  pair  that  founded  the  Essex  strain,  Mark 
Pitman  says  that  the  pullet  was  clear  color,  beautifullv  barred. 


I'lAMOrril  h'OCK  STWDMN)  AND  BHEED  BOOK  lO", 

and  with  the  exception  of  being  too  leggy  was  a  fine  all  'round 
specimen.  The  cockerel  was  even  superior,  and  for  general 
appearance  as  handsome  as  he  has  seen  since.  He  thinks  that 
one  exactly  like  him  would  win  some  of  the  shows  of  today. 

From  what  could  be  learned  from  literature  contemporary 
with  the  early  Plymouth  Rocks  and  from  the  early  breeders, 
some  of  whom  have  been  mentioned,  so  closely  and  vitally  were 
they  connected  with  the  breed's  early  history,  an  account  that 
gives  a  fairly  comprehensive  knowledge  of  what  may  be  called 
the  formative  stage  of  this  breed  has  been  given.  To  follow 
further  these  different  strains  and  innumerable  new  ones  is  im- 
possible because  of  the  rapidity  with  which  new  breeders,  new 
strains,  and  representative  specimens  of  this  breed  multiplied. 
From  what  we  have  learned,  however,  we  are  safe  in  coming  to 
the  conclusion  that  the  evolution  of  the  Barred  Plymouth  Rock 
has  had  five  different  stages  of  development. 

First,  acquiring  the  color  and  markings  of  the  Hawk-colored 
fowls  which  were,  at  the  best,  but  mere  suggestions  of  the  ])Inin- 
age  of  our  best  modern  Barred  Plymouth  Rocks,  which  is  in 
comparison  very  near  to  perfection  itself  in  color  and  markings. 

P"rom  these  early  accounts  it  is  clear  that  the  first  task  was 
to  breed  what  Upham  calls  the  steel-colored  pullets.  P)Oth 
Uj^ham  and  Ramsdell  agree  that  black  pullets  predominated 
among  the  progeny  of  the  Spaulding  cross  and  the  writers  of  a 
little  later  period  complain  of  some  pullets  coming  black  and  of 
too  many  of  the  pullets  being  too  dark.  Red  and  black  feathers, 
light-colored  tails  and  solid  or  nearly  solid  colored  flights  were 
other  features  of  the  plumage  of  these  birds  that  required  time 
and  skill  to  eliminate.  If  we  consider  the  breed  to  have  begun 
its  career  with  the  original  Spaulding  cross,  the  first  step  seems 
to  have  been  to  secure  pullets  that  were  gray  or  steel-colored, 
like  the  cockerels.  Even  then,  the  best  of  the  pullets  were  much 
darker  than  the  cockerels. 

The  second  stage  was  the  formative  period,  during  which  the 
early  breeders  were  eradicating  those  evils  which  seemed  the 
greatest,  each  to  his  individual  opinion.  All  were  clearing  the 
color  to  a  certain  extent  and  endeavoring  to  produce  a  clean  bird 
with  distinct  bars  on  the  surface.  In  this  particular,  Mark  Pit- 
man, with  his  Essex  County  Strain,  is  admitted  to  have  had  the 
lead.  Some,  like  Drake  and  Ramsdell,  sought  to  develop  large, 
rangy  fowls,  while  on  the  other  hand.  Pitman  and  Oilman  stood 


10(i  AMERICAN  POri/riiV   ASSiK'/  \'ri(>\ 

out  for  a  moderate  size.    Gilnian  was  at  the  same  time  straining 
every  nerve  to  produce  clear  yellow  legs  and  beaks. 

One  of  the  steps  of  this  stage  was  to  develop  a  family  or  line 
of  birds  that  would  breed  cockerels  and  pullets  of  the  same  shade 
of  color.  To  accomplish  this  a  constant  endeavor  was  main- 
tained to  breed  the  cockerels  darker  and  the  pullets  lighter. 
This  step  has  been  described  in  previous  pages,  and  will  be  more 
or  less  often  discussed  in  its  various  connections.  After  a  time, 
however,  males  and  females  that  matched  tolerably  well  were 
bred  by  many  persons  and  accompanying  that  achievement  c;'.me 
better  and  clearer  surface  color  and  more  distinct  markings. 

Yet  much  was  left  to  be  desired  in  these  and  many  other 
directions.  Underbarring,  referred  to  at  that  time  as  under 
color,  was  weak,  the  bars  extending  but  little  below  the  surface 
of  the  plumage  and  failing  by  considerable  to  extend  through- 
out the  entire  length  of  the  feathers.  For  a  time  many  of  the 
females  had  no  more  than  three  dark  bars.  To  develop  under- 
barring  over  the  entire  length  of  the  feather  occupied  the  atten- 
tion of  the  best  breeders  for  several  years. 

The  third  period  was  then  one  in  which  improvement  along 
the  lines  indicated  in  the  preceding  paragraph  proceeded  until 
real  excellencies  were  developed  to  such  an  extent  that  the  best 
exhibition  specimens  had  in  reality  become  good  specimens,  even 
when  measured  by  our  present  Standard.  Shape  became  more 
uniform  and  has  steadily  grown  more  so,  and  today,  as  judged 
by  our  best  exhibitions,  no  variety  is  as  uniform  in  this  partic- 
ular as  the  Barred  Plymouth  Rock.  In  this  period  of  the  Barred 
Plymouth  Rock,  undercolor  became  good,  surface  color  clear, 
bars  distinct  and  brassiness  in  male  birds  disappeared.  All  this 
has  been  accomplished  during  the  first  fifteen  or  twenty  years  of 
the  breed's  existence.  When  these  excellencies  licgan  to  show- 
signs  of  approaching  an  accomplishment  in  a  degree  of  approxi- 
mate satisfaction,  more  attention  was  paid  to  the  sharp  definition 
and  direction  of  the  barring  than  heretofore.  Straightening  the 
bars  and  acquiring  sharp  definition  to  the  edges  of  bars  may  be 
said  to  have  been  the  fourth  stage  in  the  development  of  Barred 
Plymouth  Rock  plumage. 

The  fifth,  or  present  stage,  seems  to  be  occupied  by  an  en- 
deavor to  maintain  all  the  excellencies  of  the  past  and.  further. 


PLYMOITH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  HRKEI)  HOOK  107 

to  get  more  bars,  or  finer  barring,  as  it  is  called.  Even  now  cer- 
tain specimens  have  overstepped  in  this,  as  it  is  possible  to  do 
because  fine  barring  becomes  indistinct  when  too  fine. 

The  tendency  of  the  modern  breeders  is  toward  more  regular 
barring.  The  straight-across-the-feather  bar,  and  as  many  of 
them  as  possible,  is  the  ambition  of  many  breeders  nowadays. 
The  effect  is  certainly  very  pretty,  but  how  far  shall  we  sacrifice 
shape,  color  of  legs  and  beaks  for  perfection  in  barring,  is  the 
question  which  will  shortly  come  up.  It  must  be  granted  that 
to  obtain  fine  and  regular  barring  and  strong  undercolor,  many 
have  bred  the  females  too  dark  in  surface  color.  This  is  not  de- 
crying straight  bars  and  strong  undercolor.  They  have  their 
value  and  efforts  must  be  made  to  acquire  these  qualities,  but  it 
is  better  to  acquire  them  slowly  and  retain  other  good  features 
than  to  produce  them  in  haste  and  lose  other  virtues. 

After  a  careful  survey  of  the  accomplishments  of  a  little 
over  fifty  years,  breeders  of  this  variety  can  look  at  their  birds 
and  their  records  with  pride.  Not  for  a  moment  of  that  time 
has  the  breed  stood  still.  Its  progress  has  been  one  continued 
ascent  in  public  esteem,  for  improvement  has  been  the  watch- 
word, and  perfection  the  motto  of  those  who  have  had  its  best 
interest  at  heart. 

The  great  endeavor  of  the  breeders  of  the  present  is  and  of 
the  breeders  of  the  future  will  be  to  maintain  an  even  shade  of 
color  of  the  individual  specimen,  and  of  both  sexes,  with  sharply 
defined  edges  and  sharply  contrasting  colors,  with  underbarring 
extending  to  the  skin  and  as  many  bars  to  the  feather  as  can  be 
produced  thereon  and  still  maintain  the  aforementioned  qualities. 
Needless  to  say  that  rapid  growth  and  large  &g^  yie'd  will  be 
attri1)utes  which  the  breeders  will  insist  upon  more  even  in  the 
future  than  in  the  past ;  otherwise,  the  Plymouth  Rock  would 
lose  its  well  merited  popularity ;  which  Heaven  forbid. 

The  early  histories  of  the  Plymouth  Rock  and  the  Barred 
Plymouth  Rock  are  identical,  inasmuch  as  the  latter  were  the  sole 
member  of  the  family  until  1888.  when  we  find  the  White  Plym- 
outh Rock  a  member  of  the  family  with  official  acknowledgment 
of  its  parentage. 


108  .\mi:ri('.\\  rorr/rh'Y   ix.s'or/ tvvo.v 

CHAPTER  III. 

STANDARD   REQUIREMENTS   FOR  SHAPE    OF 
ALL    VARIETIES 

Disqualifications 

Positive  enamel  white  in  ear-lobes.  (See  general  disquali- 
fications.) 

STANDARD  WRKlirrS 

Cock 9]/.  lbs.     I  len 7>^  lbs. 

Cockerel 8      lbs.      Till  let  ^ 6      lbs. 

SHAPE    OF    MALE 

Head. — Moderately  large. 

Beak. — Stout,  comparatively  short,  regularly  curved. 

Eyes. — Full,  prominent. 

Comb. — Single,  rather  small  in  proportion  to  size  of  speci- 
men ;  set  firmly  on  head ;  straight,  upright ;  evenly  serrated, 
having  five  well-defined  points,  tliose  in  front  and  at  rear  a  trifle 
smaller  than  the  other  three,  giving  the  comb  a  semi-oval  ap- 
pearance when  viewed  from  the  side ;  fine  in  texture ;  blade  not 
conforming  too  closely  to  head. 

Wattles  and  Ear-Lobes. — Wattles,  moderately  long,  nicely 
rounded  at  the  lower  edges,  equal  in  length,  fine  in  texture,  free 
from  folds  or  wrinkles.  Ear-lobes,  oblong,  smooth,  hanging 
about  one-third  the  length  of  wattles. 

Neck. — Rather  long,  slightly  arched,  having  abundant  hackle 
flowing  well  over  shoulders. 

Wings. — Of  medium  size,  well  folded ;  fronts,  well  covered 
by  breast  feathers  and  points  well  covered  by  saddle  feathers. 

Back. — Rather  long,  broad  its  entire  length,  flat  at  shoulders, 
nearly  horizontal  from  neck  to  saddle,  where  there  is  a  slight 
concave  sweep  to  tail;  saddle  feathers,  rather  long,  abundant, 
filling  well  in  front  of  tail. 

Tail. — Of  medium  length,  moderately  well  spread,  carried  at 
an  angle  of  forty-five  degrees  above  the  horizontal  (see  illustra- 
tion, figures  25  and  26).  forming  no  apparent  angle  with  the 
back  ;  sickles,  well  curved,  covering  tops  of  main  tail  feathers, 
conforming  to  the  general  shape  of  the  tail ;  smaller  sickles  and 
tail-coverts,  of  medium  length,  nicely  curved  and  sufficiently 
abundant  to  almost  hide  the  stiff  feathers  of  the  tail  when 
viewed  from  front  or  side. 

Breast. — Broad,  full,  moderately  deep,  well  rounded. 


I'LYMOLTH  ROVK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  lt>;» 

Body  and  Fluff. — Body,  rather  long,  broad,  deep,  full, 
straight,  extending  well  forward,  connecting  with  breast  so  as 
to  make  no  break  in  outline;  fluff,  moderately  full. 

Legs  and  Toes. — Thighs,  large,  of  medium  length,  well  cov- 
ered with  soft  feathers;  shanks  of  medium  length,  smooth, 
straight,  stout,  set  well  apart;  toes,  straight,  of  medium  length, 
well  spread. 

SHAPE    OF    FEMALE 

Head. — Moderately  large,  broad,  medium  in  length. 

Beak. — Compartively  short,  regularly  curved. 

Eyes. — Full,  prominent. 

Comb. — Single,  small,  proportional  to  size  of  specimen ;  set 
firmly  on  the  head;  straight,  upright;  evenly  serrated,  having 
five  well-defined  points,  those  in  front  and  at  rear  being  some- 
what smaller  and  shorter  than  the  other  three. 

Wattles  and  Ear-Lobes. — Wattles,  small,  well  rounded,  equal 
in  length,  fine  in  texture.    Ear-lobes,  oblong  in  shape,  smooth. 

Neck. — Medium  in  length,  nicely  curved  and  tapering  to 
head,  where  it  is  comparatively  small ;  neck  feathers,  moderately 
full,  flowing  well  over  shoulders  with  no  apparent  break  at  junc- 
ture of  neck  and  back. 

Wings. — Of  medium  size,  well  folded ;  fronts,  well  covered 
by  breast  feathers. 

Back.- — Rather  long,  broad  its  entire  length,  flat  at  shoulders, 
rising  with  a  slightly  concave  incline  to  tail. 

Tail. — Of  medium  length,  fairly  well  spread,  carried  at  an 
angle  of  thirty-five  degrees  above  the  horizontal  (see  illustration, 
figure  26),  forming  no  apparent  angle  with  the  back  ;  tail-coverts, 
well  developed. 

Breast. — Broad,  full,  moderately  deep,  well  rounded. 

Body  and  Fluff. — Body,  rather  long,  moderately  deep,  full, 
straight  from  front  to  rear  and  extending  well  forward,  con- 
nected with  the  breast  so  as  to  make  no  l)reak  in  outline  ;  fluff, 
full,  of  medium  length. 

Legs  and  Toes. — Thighs,  of  medium  size  and  length,  well 
covered  with  soft  feathers  ;  shanks,  of  medium  length,  set  well 
apart,  stout  and  smooth ;  toes,  of  medium  size  and  length, 
straight,  well  spread. 


no 


AMERIf'AX   for  l/rRY  ASSOCIATIOX 


PLATE  3 


BARRED  PLYMOUTH  RoCK  MALE 


I'DMOI  'III  h'OCK  s'f\\l)\l,'l>  AM)  liltRHD  HOOK  111 


PLATE   4 


BARRED  PLYMOUTH    K(>(_K    I- I'M  \l  .!•. 


112  A^^^■:lfl('AN  povltry  association 

CHAPTER  IV. 

COMMON    DEFECTS     OF    PLYMOUTH     ROCK    SHAPE 
Common  Defects 

The  shape  description  already  given  of  Plymouth  Rocks, 
from  the  American  Standard  of  Perfection,  is  that  of  a  perfect 
bird,  and  the  further  original  treatise  found  in  this  work  is 
merely  for  the  purpose  of  clarifying  and  amplifying  that  found 
in  that  more  general  work.  Admittedly,  however,  no  specimen, 
male  or  female,  is  perfect,  which  means  that  every  specimen  is 
defective  in  some  way  in  nature  and  degree ;  that  is,  two  indi- 
viduals may  have  defects,  but  of  different  nature,  or  they  may 
have  the  same  defect,  but  in  dift'erent  degrees.  One  is,  then, 
more  defective  than  another  because  it  has  more  defects,  or 
because  it  has  greater  defects,  as  the  case  may  be. 

It  is  the  purpose  of  this  work  to  point  out  the  more  common 
defects,  and  so  explain  their  nature,  that  they  may  be  readily 
detected  and  the  seriousness  of  their  nature  accurately  computed ; 
also,  how  to  mate,  according  to  the  practices  of  the  most  success- 
ful breeders  of  Plymouth  Rocks,  so  that  such  and  such  defects 
of  the  parents  may  be  eliminated  in  the  progeny. 

THE    MALE 

Comb. — The  reader  is  advised  to  make  himself  at  this  point 
familiar  with  the  nomenclature  of  the  comb  and  head  points. 
(See  illustrations,  plates  5  and  6.)  The  most  noticeable  feature 
of  the  head  is  the  comb.  This,  the  high  point  of  the  head,  the 
top-piece,  and,  like  the  hat  on  a  well  dressed  man  or  woman, 
creates  a  good  or  poor  impression  according  to  its  own  quality. 
Unless  harmonious  proportions  between  the  comb  and  the  head 
exist,  an  unfavorable  impression  is  created  immediately.  For 
these  reasons  breeders  pay  more  attention  to  it  than  to  any  other 
adjunct  of  the  head.  The  description  in  the  Standard  is  clear 
and  is  generally  understood,  but  often  too  much  importance  is 
attached  to  the  clause  which  requires  five  points,  evenly  spaced, 
with  the  front  and  rear  points  a  little  smaller  than  the  other 
three,  and  each  of  the  right  length  to  look  proportionate  to  the 
base,  which  should  be  firm,  smooth,  straight,  free  from  folds, 
wrinkles,  indentures,  or  thumb  marks. 


VLYMOl  I'll   HOCK  S'/'.\\I).\h'J)  .lA'/>  BREED  BOOK  11.", 

Carriage  of  Comb. — It  is  ;i  niatter  of  first  importance  that  tlie 
comb  should  set  iirmly  on  the  head,  as  a  thin  or  hmber  comb 
is  apt  to  droop  and  if  a  comb  (h'oops  too  much  it  becomes  a  dis- 
qualification, which  clearly  intimates  that  a  drooping  comb  is  a 
serious  defect.    (See  illustration,   IMate  7,   Figure  1.) 

Turning-  to  one  side  at  either  front  or  rear  is  also  a  defect. 
This  is  illustrated  in  Plate  7,  Figure  3.  Thumb  marks  or  wrinkles 
over  the  beak  are  quite  serious  defects,  as  the  rules  for  cutting 
the  same  clearly  show.  These  are  shown  in  the  same  illustra- 
tions. (See,  also.  cha})ter  on  Cutting  for  Defects.)  These  faults 
usually  occur  wdien  the  l)lade  is  too  large  or  too  heavy.  What 
are  expressively  termed  "beefy"  combs  are  inclined  to  this  fault. 
Twisted  combs  are  very  unsightly  and  undesirable.  An  illustra- 
tion of  a  twist  in  the  comb  of  a  male  is  seen  in  Plate  7,  b^igure  2, 
and  of  a  female  is  seen  in  Plate  17.  b'igure  2. 

Size  Outline.  —If  the  features  are  to  be  considered  in  the 
order  in  which  they  affect  the  appearance  of  the  bird,  size  and 
outline  must  be  next  discussed.  .V  comb  should  not  be  so  large 
as  to  look  top  heavy  or  coarse.  On  the  contrary,  it  should  not 
be  so  small  that  the  male  seems  effeminate,  or  that  the  female 
appears  to  lack  health  or  vigor.  Male  heads  of  coarse  tendencies 
will  be  found  illustrated  in  Plate  7,  Figures  3  and  5.  Refined 
heads  are  demanded  of  both  sexes  in  all  Plymouth  Rocks.  The 
outline  of  all  combs  should  be  symmetrical ;  that  is,  all  parts  of 
the  comb,  the  blade,  the  base  and  the  points  should  be  in  i)ro- 
portion  to  give  proper  balance  between  all  these  parts. 

Base. — The  base  of  the  comb  should  be  straight,  first  of  all, 
from  front  to  rear,  heavy  enough  to  hold  the  points  from  droop- 
ing and  the  blade  from  turning  to  one  side  or  the  other ;  though 
extremely  and  unnecessarily  heavy  bases  are  not  wanted,  as 
should  be  understood  from  the  Standard  description.  This  de- 
scription precludes  thumb-marks,  wrinkles  and  indentures  as 
mentioned,  heretofore.  In  Plate  7,  Figure  4,  the  base  is  shown 
too  narrow  or  thin,  while  in  Figure  5  the  base  is  too  coarse  and 
too  heavy. 

Blade. — The  width  or  dej^th  of  the  blade  should  be  about  the 
same  as  the  length  of  the  longest  points  or  a  little  more  to  give 
the  best  setting,  and  the  line  formed  by  the  base  of  the  serra- 
tions or  what  might  be  termed  the  top-line  of  the  blade  should 
be  nearlv  horizontal,  or  conforming  a  little   to  the  top  of  the 


.\Mi:h'lCA\  I'OI  l.'I'in-  ASSOCIATfOX 

PLATK  5 


ii)i-\L  hj-:aij  of  stanuaru  barri<:d  Plymouth 

ROCK    MALE 

Ideal  in  Conformation  for  All  Varieties  of  I'lvniouth  Rocks 


I'l.YMoi  I'll  j,-<>ch  s'r.wDAh'i)  AM)  iti:i:i:i>  hook        115 


PLATE  6 


IDEAL    HEAD    ()F    STANDARD    BARRI':D    PLYMOUTH 
ROCK    FEMALE 

L.Ieal  in  Conformation  for  All  X'aricties  of  Plvniouth  Rocks 


110  .n//;/.'/r'.i.Y  poultry  A^HOCLvnoy 

skull  and  at  the  same  time  with  the  outline  made  by  the  top  of 
the  serrations,  and  thus  help  to  hariTionize  all  the  i)arts.  The 
blade  may  be  taken  as  part  of  the  base,  and  much  that  has  been 
stated  about  the  latter  is  true  of  the  former ;  more  than  that,  it 
must  follow  the  skull  somewhat  to  give  the  appearance  of  setting 
on  the  head  gracefully  and  it  should  be  of  such  length  as  to  bal- 
ance with  the  other  parts  so  that  the  comb,  all  in  all,  completes 
its  symmetrical  outline.  Plate  7.  Figure  5.  illustrates  a  comb 
in  which  the  base  is  too  high,  also  the  blade  too  deep,  the  points 
too  many  and  uneven,  and  the  base  of  the  serrations  not  in  sym- 
metrical alignment. 

Points. — These  should  be  live  in  number  and  evenly  spaced. 
The  front  and  rear  points  a  little  smaller  than  the  other  three  so 
as  to  obtain  a  regular  and  symmetrical  outline. 

Besides  e\en  spacing,  the  right  proportion  in  length  of  points 
and  depth  of  blade  should  exist.  Of  this,  the  eye  is  the  best 
judge,  rather  than  a  mathematical  calculation.  As  a  rule,  the 
blade  should  be  slightly  deeper  than  the  length  of  the  points, 
but  sometimes  combs  that  are  pronounced  good  by  competent 
judges  have  points  a  trifle  longer  than  the  depth  of  the  blade  and 
other  good  combs  have  points  that  are  perceptibly  shorter.  Of 
this  feature,  the  first  impression  given  to  the  practiced  eye  is 
usually  the  correct  one.  Plate  7.  Figure  4.  illustrates  a  comb 
that  has  too  many  and  too  long  j^oints.  These  points  are  not 
absolutely  erect,  which  they  should  be. 

A  phenomenon  known  as  the  double-point  occurs  when  the 
serration  between  two  points  is  not  as  deep  as  between  the  other 
points  of  the  same  comb.  Sometimes  the  serration  referred  to  is 
very  shallow,  which  gives  the  appearance  of  one  broad  point. 
This  defect  destroys  all  balance  between  the  serrations  and  the 
points,  and  is  a  most  marked  blemish  when  viewed  from  the 
side.  An  illustration  of  a  double-point  can  be  seen  in  Plate  7, 
Figure  3. 

In  order  to  obtain  a  thorough  understanding  of  what  consti- 
tutes an  ideal  single  comb,  one  should  make  a  careful  study  of 
the  life  size  illustration  of  a  perfect  Plymouth  Rock  male  head. 
Plate  5.  as  well  as  of  the  six  figures  on  Plate  7. 

Other  Head  Adjuncts. — Not  nearly  as  much  attention  is  paid 
to  defects  of  the  other  appurtenances  of  the  head  as  to  those  of 
the  comb.  The  shape  of  the  eyes,  wattles  and  lobes  are  clearly 
defined  in  the  Standard,  but  unless  they  are  very  noticeably 
defective  in  shape,  little  cutting  is  practiced.  \\'attles  may  be  of 
unequal  length    (see  Plate  7,  Figure  4).   too   long    (Figure   5). 


PLYMOUTH  h'OCK  ST.WDARI)  AM)  ]ilii:i:i)  ISOOK  117 

PLATE  7 


ILLUSTRATING    DEFECTIVP:    MALE    HEADS.    COMBS. 
WATTLES    AND    EAR-LOBES 

1.  Lopped  eonib,  usually  overgrown,  lacks  stiffness  or  firmness  of 
tissue.  To  disqualify  (see  "General  Disqualifications")  ;i  single  comb, 
some  portion  must  fnll  l)elow  the  horizontal  plane  where  comb  begins 
its  lop. 

2.  Twisted  comb,  an  irregular  shaped  comb,  falling  or  curving  from 
side  to   side,  being   distorted  from  the   normal  perpendicular  position. 

3.  Comb,  very  coarse  in  texture,  with  thumb-marks  in  front  over 
nostrils.  Third  and  fourth  points  grown  into  a  double  serration,  rear 
serrations  partially  lopped.  Wattles  and  ear-lobes,  coarse,  pendulous 
and  wrinkled.     Face,  also  wrinkled,  causes  bad  expression. 

Lower  Row — 

4.  Head,  narrow.  Comb,  serrations  too  sharp  and  too  much  elon- 
gated; blade,  too  shallow;  points  inclined  to  lop.  Wattles  do  not  match 
in  length  (one  is  shrunken).  Kar-lobes  too  heavy  to  match  comb  and 
wattles. 


118  AMERICAN  POULTRY  A^SHOVIATION 

5.  Head,  very  coarse.  Deformed,  twisted  beak  (a  disqualification). 
Comb,  crooked  in  front,  irregular^  short,  blunted  serrations.  Side  springs 
on  comb  (disqualification).  See  "General  Disqualifications."  Wattles 
and  ear-lobes  too  long,  coarse,  wrinkled  and  pendulous.  Face,  shows 
irregular  bunches  about  the  eye  and  at  juncture  of  beak.  Throat,  with 
coarse   dewlap. 

6.  Head  typical  of  male  of  weak  constitution.  Head  too  long  and 
too  shallow.     Beak,  too  long. 


even  too  short,  misshapen,  coarse  in  texture  (Figure  5),  but  even 
so,  unless  very  noticeably  so,  deductions  from  the  score  are  not 
often  made.  Wattles  are  most  often  cut  for  injuries  from  fight- 
ing, freezing,  or  tearing  in  one  way  or  another.  These  are  not 
natural  defects  and  should  not  be  discounted  as  heavily  as 
though  they  were.  Such  injuries  mar  the  good  appearance  of 
the  bird  most  seriously.  Ear-lobes  in  Plymouth  Rocks  are  good 
as  a  rule  and  seldom  cut  for  shape. 

Skull. — Occasionally  the  head  proper,  also  the  beak,  is  too 
long  and  not  nearly  deep  enough,  and  for  these  defects  are  cut, 
but  not  heavily  numerically,  because  the  allotment  to  these  sec- 
tions for  shape  is  very  small.    (See  Plate  7,  Figure  6.) 

The  following  shape  sections  are  important  because  many  of 
these  denote  practical  qualities  or  the  absence  of  them. 

Neck. — First  impressions  are  very  often  convincing,  espe- 
cially in  a  large  class.  One  of  the  most  important  factors  in 
making  an  impression  is  style,  and  style  depends  much  upon 
the  length  and  arch  in  the  neck,  for  the  latter  gives  the  head  its 
poise.  If  lacking  in  arch,  it  is  usually  because  the  head  is  carried 
too  far  forward.  Note  the  position  of  head  in  ideal  illustrations. 
with  front  of  beak  falling  vertically  back  of  the  front  of  the 
breast.  The  vertical  position  of  the  head  relative  to  the  front  of 
breast  is  one  of  the  distinctive  breed  characteristics  in  the  Amer- 
ican class. 

Length  is  important ;  if  the  neck  is  too  short,  the  bird  lacks 
style,  and  the  neck  is  also  probably  too  thick  and  has  too  much 
arch ;  if  too  long,  it  is  probably  too  slender  and  lacks  arch.  Too 
long  necks  generally  accompany  birds  too  long  in  other  sections, 
especially  legs.  A  well-arched,  full  neck  indicates  vitality  and  is 
desired.  Necks  of  males  should  carry  an  abundance  of  long, 
flowing  hackle  feathers.  Without  these,  neck  and  shoulders  will 
show  an  angle  at  the  junction,  which  should  not  appear.  With 
long,  flowing  hackle  feathers  extending  well  over  shoulders,  neck 


I'LYMOUTII  ROCK  »S7'  1  \ />  I /,•/)  AM)  BREED  HOOK  110 

and  back  seem  to  merge  together,  a  necessary  feature  at  a  vital 
point  in  a  beautiful  top  contour. 

Wings. — The  most  common  fault  at  the  present  time  in  this 
section  is  deformed  feathers.  While  this  deformity  usually  lakes 
the  form  of  twisted  feathers,  other  defects  such  as  these  are  not 
as  unsightly,  as  the  twisted  feather  or  feathers  nearly  always 
protrudes  more  or  less.  Often  several  feathers  are  twisted  as 
shown  by  illustration  in  Plate  8,  Figure  2. 

Twisted  wings  take  on  several  peculiar  and  abnormal  forms. 
Occasionally  the  end  of  the  flight  or  secondaries  are  affected,  and 
as  in  this  case  the  defect  is  most  noticeable.  Again,  the  bone  of 
the  wing,  at  or  beyond  the  joint  furthest  from  the  body  is 
turned  in  so  that  the  flight  feathers  face  wrong  side  out.  as  illus- 
trated in  Figure  4.  Another  form  of  this  defect  is  seen  in  Figure 
3,  in  which  the  secondaries  are  abnormal,  turning  down  at  the 
points  and  exposing  the  points  of  flights.  Occasionally  wings  do 
not  fold  together  properly,  and  remain  open  by  the  side.  This 
is  what  is  known  as  a  slipped  wing.  For  illustration  see  Figure 
1.  This  undesirable  phenomenon,  known  as  the  slipped  wing, 
has  of  recent  years  become  common  in  many  strains  of  pure- 
bred fowls.  This  appears  when  the  flights  fold  in  reverse  rather 
than  in  the  natural  order;  those  nearest  the  body  dropping  from 
their  natural  position  just  inside  the  secondary  farthest  from  the 
body  and  appearing  outside  of  the  lower  secondaries  instead  of 
inside;  thus  leaving  a  space  between  the  folded  secondaries  and 
the  primaries,  which  give  rise  to  the  name  "slipped  wing" — the 
primaries  have  the  appearance  of  having  slipped  down.  The 
name  is  applied  in  sucli  a  case  whether  the  primaries  are  rexersed 
or  not. 

The  outside  appearance  of  such  a  wing  is  not  altogether 
unlike  that  of  what  is  known  as  the  split-wing.  The  latter  is. 
however,  different  as  the  flights,  though  folded,  are  not  covered 
by  the  secondaries.  This  split  is  caused  by  the  primaries  most 
adjacent  to  the  secondaries  or  the  secondaries,  most  adjacent  to 
the  primaries,  taking  the  wrong  direction,  with  the  result  that 
the  secondaries  fail  to  cover  the  flights  when  folded.  If  such  a 
wing  is  spread  or  open,  a  space,  sometimes  a  wide  one,  is  noted 
between  the  flights  and  secondaries.  In  some  lines  of  blood,  the 
flight  feathers,  instead  of  being  twisted  or  following  the  wrong 
direction,  are  short  and  narrow  and  do  not  fold  properly.  (See 
illustration.  Plate  9,  Figure  5.) 


.\Mi:in('.\\   I'Ol  LTIIY  AS,SO(HATJ0N 


LATK  S 


DEFECTS  OF  WINGS 

1.     Slippod    Primaries.      Pri- 
maries habitually   slipped  out- 
ward  from   under   the   second- 
aries. 


-.  Twisted  Primaries.  I'ri- 
iiiarics  twisted  iu  spiral  form 
ation. 


?>.  Mussed  Wiuj;-.  Persist- 
ciitlv  failing  to  hold  the  wing 
feathers  well  folded  at  the 
sides  when  they  are  of  form- 
atiiiu  that  (•oul(i  he  neatlv  car- 
ried. 


-f 


4.  Down-Turned  Primaries. 
Primaries  bent  downward  so 
that  they  are  not  folded  be- 
neatli    the  secondaries. 


I'lA MOl'/'lf  RiU'K  X'l'.\M>\lih  AM)   ItRIUm  HOOK  121 

PLATE  9 


DEFECTS  OF  WINGS 


5.  Split  Wing.  Wing  so  ir- 
regularly formed  as  to  appear 
split  through  between  the  sec- 
ondaries  and    till'    primaries. 


6.  Short  Wing  with  Up- 
turned Primaries.  Primaries 
bent  upward  so  that  they  will 
not  fold  neatly  underneath  the 
secondaries. 


7.  Drooping  Shoulders. 
Shoulders  and  wing  fronts 
drooping  too  low. 


8.    Drooping  Points.     Points 
of  wings  carried  too  low. 


112L'  lii/ /•;/.' /f. IV  I'oi  i/i'jn    \ss(K'i\'n()\ 

Large  or  long  wings  are  not  called  for  l)y  the  Standard,  but 
the  wing  should  be  of  moderate  length,  sutiicient  to  reach  the 
saddles  in  the  male,  and  a  corresponding  position  in  the  female. 
They  should  be  well-tucked  tip  and  covered  by  the  saddle  or  back 
feathers,  according  to  sex.  An  illustration  of  these  defects  are 
seen  in  I^^igure  6. 

Drooping  shoulders  indicate  a  looseness  or  weakness  of  the 
shoulder  muscles.  The  unnatural  effect  presented  by  this  defect 
may  be  seen  in  Figure  7.  Another  and  equally  undesirable  defect 
is  seen  in  Figure  8  of  the  high  or  too  prominent  shoulder  with 
the  large  wing  feathers  held  at  the  wrong  angle,  bringing  the 
points  too  low.  This  wing  is  too  large  and  the  point  is  not 
tucked  up  or  covered  as  it  should  be. 

Back. — -This  section  affords  an  opportunity  for  sharp  distinc- 
tion between  the  breeds  of  the  American  class.  Plymouth  Rocks' 
backs  should  be  broad  and  of  moderate  length.  When  joined  to 
a  fully  feathered,  correctly  arched  neck,  and  a  well-furnished, 
well-spread  tail,  carried  at  the  proper  angle,  the  back,  with  these 
sections,  forms  a  beautiful  top  contour.  The  curves  connecting 
back  and  neck,  and  back  with  tail,  are  so  mild  and  gradual  as  to 
l)e  most  graceful  and  finished.  To  obtain  this  pleasing  effect. 
the  back  must  be  just  as  it  is  described  and  portrayed  in  the 
Standard.  Faulty  backs,  and  there  are  many  of  them,  as  it  is  a 
hard  section  to  breed  as  it  should  be  bred,  make  obviously  faulty 
birds.  The  back  may  be  too  short ;  this  means  a  short  body,  and 
the  birds  must  lack  true  breed  type.  Shortness  of  body  means 
lack  of  weight  or  even  a  greater  variance  from  true  type.  Too 
long  backs  mean  too  long  bodies,  and  a  variance  from  tru-e  type. 
Such  birds  are  apt  to  be  too  flat  on  the  sides  as  well  as  on  the 
back.  They  lack  grace  and  typical  carriage.  As  Plymouth 
Kocks  they  are  plain  and  unattractive.  Too  long  backs  usually 
lack  the  curve  needed,  to  finish  a  good  specimen,  between  the 
back  and  tail.  They  are  usually  too  narrow  and  round  from 
side  to  side,  and  again  are  much  more  apt  to  be  "roached,"  that 
is,  have  a  tendency  to  make  the  black  line  convex  rather  than 
concave.  Breadth  is  needed  in  this  section  to  give  the  sturdy 
appearance  characteristic  of  this  breed. 

The  four  photographs  of  four  Buff  Rock  males  show  several 
common  faults  as  they  appear  from  the  top.  The  first,  that  of 
the  ideal  male,  the  second  of  a  male  with  too  short  a  back,  too 
hea\y  side  fluff;  a  perceptible  angle  at  juncture  of  l)ack  and  tail 
and  a  ])inched  tail.    The  third  one,  too  narrow  in  back  and  body. 


I'lAMoi  'III  uoch  sr.wnMfi)  ,i  v/>  nuHijn  hook 


O  s  C  a;  o 
C^--  mo 

oj     •       O 


^  o^  o      o 
,^  I.  c  t.  J  c 


i      B> 

.m  .a; 


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m      S  t.  0)  C 
M  >  0/  o  o 


124 


.1 M ERICA  A    I'OII/l'in-  ASSOC'/ A TION 


PLATE  11 


%4.L.' 


^W^^ 


DEFECTIVE        CONEOEMA- 

TION  OF  BACK,  BODY 

AND  TAIL 

1.  Tail  plumage  too  large  in 
proportioii  to  back  and  body. 
Soniotimcs  called  "bushy 
tail." 


2.  Back  and  body  slope  too__ 
much  toward  rear.  Tail  plu- 
mage too  much  contracted  and 
jiointed  in  general  form  of  tail, 
termed  "Pinched  Tail." 


'A.  Body  shows  too  much 
luff.  Upper  portion  of  tail 
troijer  feathers  are  bent  or 
Missing,  causing  bunched  or 
'Cobby   Tail." 


4.  Back  and  tail  form  too 
nearly  a  straight  back  and  tail 
line,  or  a  "flat  top  line."  Tail 
lacks  in  side  furnishing. 


^      --^-  /:> 


I'LYMOi  711  h'och  s'l'.wnAnn  Axn  bheFjI}  book 


125 


PLATE  12 


DEFECTIVE    CONFORiMA- 

TION  OF  BACK,  BODY 

AND  TAIL 


5.  Back  and  tail  line  too 
iMHicavo.  Tail  pluniaKO  too 
long  and  "fan  shaped.'' 


6.  Body  thin  in  front,  nn- 
derneath.  Back  at  shoulders 
slopes  too  much  to  roar.  Cush- 
ion and  tail  extend  too  much  to 
a  point  or  ''Pinched  Tail." 


7.  Type  is  bunchy;  cushion, 
too  pronounced  on  top,  not  ex- 
tended well  to  tail.  Tail  too 
low,  partly  due  to  overfat  con- 
dition. 


8.  Excessive  fat  in  body 
draws  rear  end  down  too  low, 
exhibitiujo:  clumsy,  unsymmet- 
rical  appearance. 


120  .1  i//;/.'/r.i A   I'oi  i/rm   Assoc/  \ti<>\ 

and  tlie  fourtli.  a  crooked  ])ack   with  the  usually  accompanying 
wry  tail. 

For  a  careful  study  of  back  conformations,  the  reader  is 
referred  to  plates  11  and  12. 

Tail. — This  is  one  of  the  most  ornamental  sections  of  the 
bird.  Aside  from  the  head,  it  is  the  most  striking  feature  of  the 
male.  With  a  beautiful  tail,  a  bird  is  finished  ;  but,  with  the  tail 
lacking  or  faulty,  the  specimen  is  deficient. 

The  tail  must  be  carried  at  the  proper  angle  or  the  beauty  of 
the  top  contour  is  marred  or  entirely  lost.  If  carried  too  high, 
the  curve  between  back  and  tail  is  destroyed  and  an  unsightly 
angle  substituted.  If  carried  too  low,  style  and  the  appearance 
of  life  and  action  are  gone.  Too  long  tails  destroy  good  balance, 
because  they  are  out  of  proportion.  They  give  too  much  length 
to  the  bird.  The  tail  should  be  of  such  dimensions  as  to  length, 
lateral  spread  and  vertical  spread  that  it  balances  the  head  and 
neck.  Pinched  tails,  or  tails  that  do  not  spread  vertically,  are 
very  faulty,  as  a  bird  that  has  one  is  never  finished  or  balanced. 
A  good  spread  between  the  lower  or  rear  pair  of  feathers,  hori- 
zontally, is  desirable,  as  without  it  the  body  and  back  appear  too 
narrow.  A  fully  furnished  tail  is  a  rare  ornament,  therefore 
highly  prized  by  exhibitors. 

The  contour  formed  by  back  and  tail  have  so  much  weight 
when  breed  type  is  determined  that  it  is  very  nearly  impossible 
to  disassociate  these  two  sections.  The  close  connection  between 
them  is  well  shown  in  the  series  of  illustrations  on  page  124, 
plate  11.  The  four  illustrations  are  of  male  shape.  In  Figure  1 
we  see  a  fairly  well  proportioned  back  depicted,  but  the  tail  is 
too  long,  too  bushy  and  too  large  as  a  whole  to  be  in  correct 
proportion  to  the  body. 

Figure  2  illustrates  a  body  and  back  that  slope  too  much 
toward  the  rear.  The  back  is  too  narrow  at  junction  with  tail, 
which  is  too  flat  or  carried  too  low  and  is  too  pinched  or  con- 
tracted vertically,  and  also  horizontally.  Body  not  filled  or 
rounded  out,  front  or  rear,  but  especially  shallow  in  front  of 
thighs.    Wing-points  carried  too  low. 

Figure  3.  The  appearance  as  a  whole  is  too  solid,  compact 
or  blocky.  There  is  too  much  underflufT  and  coarse  plumage  on 
saddle,  in  tail  coverts,  and  rear  underparts  of  body.  Tail  is  car- 
ried too  low.    Wing-points  too  low. 

Figure  4  shows  a  common  fault,  more  common,  however,  in 
some  varieties  than  others,  of  the  straight  back  and  tail  contour, 


PLYMOr  TH  ROCK  fiT.WDARD  AM)  BREED  BOOK  127 

extending  in  this  case  from  base  of  neck  to  tip  of  t;ii1.  The  top 
line,  as  a  consequence,  lacks  gracefulness,  and  the  si)ecimen  is 
thereby  given  a  clumsy,  coarse  appearance. 

The  four  illustrations  on  page  125  are  of  faults  in  the  shape 
of  females.  Figure  5  shows  too  long,  shallow  and  narrow  l)ody. 
which  is  invariably  too  flat  sided.  The  body  and  back  are  too 
narrow  and  the  tail  is  too  long  and  too  much  spread.  Sucli 
tails  are  called  fan-shaped,  sometimes. 

Figure  6  shows  the  body  carried  too  erect  in  front,  the  back 
sloping  too  much  from  base  of  neck  to  rear  of  shoulder.  Back 
too  narrow  throughout,  even  pinched  back  of  shoulders.  Tail 
pinched,  which  means  contracted  vertically  or  both  verticall}- 
and  laterally.    Body  in  front  of  thighs  not  filled  and  rounded  out. 

Figure  7  is  a  comparable  to  the  male  opposite ;  too  blocky 
and  too  coarse,  too  much  cushion,  tail  carried  too  low.  A  speci- 
men that  as  a  whole  lacks  gracefulness  and  finish,  due  partly. 
however,  to  being  overfat. 

Figure  23  (glossary)  shows  a  tail  that  has  been  "faked."  1j}- 
plucking,  large  sickles  removed  and  main  tail  feathers  plucked 
and  bent  under  smaller  sickles  and  coverts.  This  is  sometimes 
done  by  exhibitors  to  hide  such  defects  as  too  heavy  and  bush\- 
tails. 

Breast. — The  best  liked  meat  of  a  fowl  is  found  on  the  breast ; 
therefore,  for  this  reason  breasts  that  carry  as  much  meat  as 
possible  and  still  retain  symmetrical  lines  are  desired  for  all 
breeds.  The  descriptive  terms,  "broad."  "deep,"  "full,"  are  com- 
parative, however,  and,  when  used  to  describe  Plymouth  Rocks, 
refer  to  Plymouth  Rocks  only.  Breasts  are  frequently  fau'ty  as 
to  shape.  Some  are  too  narrow,  nearly  all  are  not  deep  enough. 
Many  are  not  sufificiently  full  to  present  the  "front"  most  breed- 
ers like  to  see.  Few  breasts  are  full  just  in  front  and  above  the 
end  of  the  keel-bone.  This  defect  is  very  noticeable,  as  it  is  one 
of  the  first  points  of  observation,  if  not  the  verv  first,  when  in 
the  show  coop.  This  fault  is  illustrated  in  outHne  by  Figures 
1.  2.  3.  Plate  11,  showing  back  and  tail  lines.  (See  also  Body 
and  Fluff.)  By  the  above  description  we  are  led  to  expect  a 
breast  outlined  by  a  series  of  broad,  symmetrical  curves  from 
side  to  side,  merging  into  the  body  on  either  side  with  no  sharp 
line  of  distinction  between  the  sides  of  the  breast  and  the  sides 
of  the  body.  The  same  description  holds  nearly  true  when 
applied  vertically.  In  this  direction  the  breast  should  be  full  and 
round.    The  breast  should  be  deep,  so  that  it  forms  a  broad,  wide 


128  .1.1//;/.'/r  1  \    /'Ol  l/l'h'Y  AKSOf'fATloX 

curve  from  loj)  to  holloni  which  i^r.-KhiaU)-  nu'r^cs  into  tlic  line 
of  the  body  formed  l)y  ihe  l)ottom  of  tlie  keel-l)one.  Thus,  both 
horizontally  and  vertically,  the  outline  of  the  breast  should  make 
a  broad,  symmetrical  cur\e  that  merges  into  the  body  without 
breaks  or  apparent  angles.  For  ideal  conformation  in  these  re- 
spects see  the  cuts  of  ideal  Plymouth  Rocks. 

Body  and  Fluff. — Technically,  body  does  not  refer  to  the 
whole  carcass,  as  in  common  phraseology.  It  refers  in  this  con- 
nection merely  to  the  lower  part  of  body  extending  back  from 
the  front  end  of  the  keel-bone.  The  fluff  is  composed  of  the 
small,  soft  feathers  foimd  between  and  to  the  rear  of  the  thighs, 
though  the  body  feathers  at  rear  of  the  thighs  are  often  spoken 
of  as  such. 

The  body  must  have  depth,  breadth  and  length.  Defects 
in  one  or  all  of  these  three  dimensions  are  common.  Defects  in 
body  shape  are  found  more  often  in  the  front  than  in  the  rear. 
Shallow  breasts  are  often  associated  with  shallow  l)odies,  espe- 
cially in  front  of  the  thigh.  A'ery  often,  too,  the  body,  in  front 
of  the  thighs  is  too  short.  Neither  must  it  be  too  long,  for  the 
body  must  be  well  balanced.  Keel-bones  that  are  too  short  in 
front  of  the  thighs  carry  breasts  that  lack  in  fullness. 

Besides  the  defects  noted  in  back  and  tail  shape,  defects  of 
breast  and  body  in  front  of  thighs  that  frequentlv  occur  are 
clearly  illustrated  and  should  be  carefully  studied.  Figure  1. 
Plate  11,  shows  a  want  of  fullness  in  front  of  thigh  for  some  dis- 
tance because  of  shallowness  of  the  fore  part  of  the  body.  The 
corresponding  defect  in  females  is  seen  in  Figure  5,  Plate  12. 
Figure  2  also  shows  a  break  between  breast  and  body  and  be- 
tween body  and  thighs  ;  whereas,  the  outlines  of  these  sections 
should  form  one  continuous  line  and  merge  into  one  another. 
The  parallel  of  this  defect  in  females  is  shown  in  Figure  6. 
Figure  3  shows  a  well  rounded  breast  outline,  but  illustrates  the 
"cut  off"  appearance  seen  in  so  many  specimens  immediately  in 
front  of  thigh,  due  to  the  fact  that  the  body  is  not  deep  enough 
at  that  particular  point,  even  though  it  forms  the  necessary 
depth  at  all  other  jjoints.  Figure  6  shows  the  same  defect  by  the 
same  cause,  in  females. 

Narrow  bodies  are  generally  accompanied  by  narrow  backs 
that  are  often  long,  flat  lengthwise,  and  what  are  termed  "ridgy," 
that  is,  too  much  rounded  on  the  sides.  IMate  lo  shows  the  rear 
views  of  a  narrowly  built  and  a  well  ])uilt  male. 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK 


129 


Shanks  and  Toes. — Legs  that  are  set  well  apart,  shanks 
that  have  plenty  of  bone,  but  are  not  over  large  and  coarse, 
are  desired,  because  they  indicate  strength  and  vitality.  Shanks 
that  are  rather  large  and  strong  are  found  only  with  large  and 

PLATE  13 


I'UOKLi    HL'lL'i  MALE 

Narrow  bodied.  Legs  too  close 
together,  indications  of  a  weak 
constitution. 


WELL  BUILT  MALE 

Good  development.  Wide  body 
and  legs  set  well  apart,  indica- 
tions of  a  strong  constitution. 


130  AMERlCAy  POULTIiY  ASi^OCIATION 

strong  specimens.  Breadth  in  back  and  l)ody  indicates  a  strong 
constitution,  and  legs  that  support  a  broad  body  are  set  well 
apart.  The  toes  on  each  leg  are  generally  stout,  straight  and 
comparatively  short.  Crookedness  is  the  most  common  defect  in 
toes.  Sometimes  this  is  accidental,  but  more  often  it  may  be 
regarded  as  one  of  the  surest  signs  of  inherent  weakness.  When 
the  general  appearance  of  a  bird  confirms  this  symptom,  the 
akinship  of  the  opposite  sex  should  be  carefully  considered. 

Shanks  that  are  well  set  apart  are  illustrated  in  Plate  15, 
Figure  3.  In  the  other  illustrations  several  defects  besides  those 
of  legs  and  toes  are  noted.  Briefly  stated,  they  are  poor  comb ; 
too  long,  thin  wattles ;  narrow  body ;  shallow  breast  and  loosely 
folded  wings.     All  of  which,  indications  of  a  weak  constitution, 


PLATE  14 


Correctly  formed  legs,  spurs  and  toes,  front  (1)  and  rear  view  (2). 
From  ])hotograpli  of  buff  cock,  a  first  winner  at  Madison  Square  Garden, 
New  York. 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  f^TAXDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK 


131 


are  illustrated  in  this  sketch.  This  characteristic  is  carried  out 
in  the  position  of  legs  and  toes.  The  hocks  are  carried  too 
closely  together  ;  a  defect  that  is  characterized  as  "knock-kneed." 
which  generally  accompanies  narrow  bodies  (Figure  1).  The 
center  toe  is  crooked,  a  frequent  occurrence  on  weak  males,  and 
the  rear  toes  turn  forward,  another  sign  of  weak  constitution, 
called  "Duck-foot?'  (See  definition  in  Glossary.)  Contrast  these 
defective  sections  with  the  correct  sections  in  Figure  3  (ideal). 


PLATE  15 


DEFECTIVE,     WELL     FORMED     AND     IDEAL     FRONT     VIEW 

1.  Comb  crooked  in  front,  serrations  only  four,  thick,  irregular; 
shoulders  not  equal  height;  wing,  twisted  tlight;  narrow  body;  legs 
turned  upward  at  "hock  joints";   spurs  turn  downward;   toes   crooked. 

2.  Well  shaped  head  points;  straight  comb;  body,  legs  and  toes 
well  formed. 

.3.  Same  figure  as  No.  2  posed  as  square  and  firm  on  legs  as  possible 
and  idealized. 


132 


AAIERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 


THE    FEMALE 

In  but  a  few  sections  does  the  shape  of  the  female  so  radically 
dififer  from  that  of  the  male  that  it  requires  a  different  treatise. 
What  follows  applies  to  those  sections. 

Comb. — The  description  of  comb  for  male  and  female  coin- 
cides, except  that  the  comb  of  the  female  is  much  smaller.  A 
female  comb  may  easily  be  too  large,  and  while  small  combs  are 
preferred,  they  should  not  be  so  small  as  to  be  difficult  to  observe, 
in  which  case  this  may  indicate  constitutional  or  sexual  weakness, 
which  is,  however,  readily  determined  in  other  ways. 


PLATE  16 


1.  2.  3. 

DEFECTIVE,     WELL  FORMED     AND     IDEAL     FRONT     VIEW 

1.  Comb,  loose,  falling  to  one  side;  neck,  not  nicely  tapered  to 
head;  wings  drooped;  breast  and  body  narrow  and  pinched  underneath; 
knee  joints  turned  inward;  crooked  toes. 

2.  Strong,  substantial  shoulders,  breast  and  body,  with  well  poised 
neck  tapering  neatly  to  excellent  head  with  neat,  straight  comb.  Strong, 
well  formed  legs  and  feet  well  apart. 

3.  Same  figure  as  No.  2  idealized. 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  133 


PLATE  17 


ILLUSTRATING    DEFECTIVE    FEMALE    HEAD,    COMB,    WATTLES 

AND  EAR  LOBES. 
Upper  Row — 

1.  Head  rather  short  and  round;  comb  twisted,  an  equally  serious 
defect  in  female  as  well  as  male;  side  sprig  at  rear,  small  in  female, 
but  nevertheless  a  disqualification.  Wattles  wrinkled  and  shrunken  at 
bottom  below  wrinkle,  so  curved  outline  of  wattle  is  spoiled.  Lobe 
heavy,  not  fitting  nicely  to  face. 

2.  Comb  very  much  too  high  at  rear  and  too  straight  along  the 
top;  serrations  not  nicely  formed,  only  four  in  number.  Wattles  and 
ear  lobes  angular,  not  nicely  rounded,  somewhat  shrunken.  Throat  too 
coarse,  not  neatly  formed. 

3.  Comb  crooked  in  front,  serrations  too  long,  overgrown.  Wattles 
too  small.  Face  wrinkled,  with  too  much  plumage  covering  face  and 
throat. 

Lower  Row — 

4.  Comb  much  too  thick  at  rear  for  a  single  comb.  [See  front 
view  on  following  head   (5).]     Wattles  too  small  to  be  typical. 

5.  Front  view  of  comb    (4),  showing  rear   too   thick. 

6.  Head  of  a  thin,  unhealthy  female. 


134  AMERICAX  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

The  chief  defects  of  the  combs  of  females  are  illustrated  as 
follows:  Plate  17,  Figure  1,  twisted  comb  or  overlapping  of 
portions  of  the  base.  Figure  2.  too  deep  and  perhaps  too  thick 
a  base,  also  too  few  points.  Figure  3,  too  long  and  too  many 
points,  inclined  to  lean  to  one  side,  wrinkled  in  front.  Figure  4, 
too  few  points,  a  blade  too  long,  too  long  a  space  in  front  of  the 
first  serration.  Figure  5.  front  view,  same  as  preceding.  Figure 
6,  turning  to  one  side,  too  thin,  indicating  an  aenemic  condition. 

Head  and  Adjuncts. — These  sections  differ  in  size  only. 

Neck. — In  this  section  the  feathers  differ  in  character  and 
form,  one  of  the  most  noticeable  sex  differences  in  most  varieties. 
In  some  breeds  hen-feathered  males  are  disqualified,  the  presence 
or  absence  of  long,  narrow  hackle  feathers  is  one  of  the  tests 
that  distinguish  between  properly  feathered  and  hen-feathered 
males.  In  sha]:)e,  the  neck  of  the  female  is  shorter  com])aratively, 
and  not  as  heavy  and  is  not  as  fully  arched  as  those  of  the  males. 

Back. — Here,  also,  we  find  the  same  difference  in  the  con- 
struction of  the  male  and  female  feather.  The  long  feathers 
from  the  saddle  or  back  of  a  male,  called  expressively  saddle- 
hangers,  are  not  found  on  females  or  hen-feathered  males.  (Hen- 
feathered  males  occur  only  in  a  few  breeds,  and  only  sufficiently 
often  to  be  considered.) 

These  differences  of  feather  construction  between  males  and 
females  creates  also  a  different  conformation  of  back  in  the  two 
sexes. 

The  variation,  however,  is  more  of  degree  than  kind.  The 
concave  is  not  as  sharp,  as  the  back  lacks  the  long,  ornamental 
saddle  feathers  and  tail  coverts  of  the  male,  and  the  concave 
curve  is  not  nearly  as  short.  On  this  account  and  because  of  the 
lower  carriage  of  the  tail,  the  body  of  the  female  appears  longer 
than  that  of  the  male,  and  the  effect  is  that  of  a  rather  long, 
broad,  straight  back,  rising  very  gradually  in  a  slightly  depressed 
incline  to  the  tail. 

Tail. — This  section  affords  opportunity  for  distinction  be- 
tween male  and  female.  The  long,  curving  sickles,  smaller 
sickles,  and  tail  coverts  of  the  male  are  of  a  different  character 
from  any  feathers  found  on  the  female.  The  tail  of  the  female 
is  carried  at  a  five  degree  lower  angle  than  with  the  male  and 
appears  even  lower  because  of  the  difference  in  character  of  the 
tail  furnishings. 

The  tail  may  possess  the  same  defects  as  the  tail  of  the  male, 
but  it  should  have  the  same  good  qualities ;  namely,  well  spread 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  I^TANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK 


135 


*  fe  5 


aJ  "5  'C  0  1) 

8^g  _.o 

•  ■  O  ^  CO  -J;^ 


O        3" 
^  cj  tc  Ph 


136  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

base,  of  sufficient  width  vertically  to  avoid  a  pinched  appearance, 
and  should  be  furnished  with  an  abundance  of  tail  coverts  of  the 
same  general  character  as  the  feathers  of  the  back,  though  both 
broader  and  longer. 

Slow-Feathering. — Of  late  years  some  lines  are  slow  in  feath- 
ering. The  reason  for  the  development  of  this  phenomena  is 
not  known,  but  some  breeders  have  observed  that  slow  feathering 
has  made  its  appearance  coincident  with  the  fine  barring.  It  has 
been  observed,  too,  that  fine  barring  and  narrow  feathers  are 
intimately  associated.  The  two  facts  have  led  to  the  idea  that 
when  breeding  for  fine  barring,  narrow  feathers  are  also  bred, 
and  by  so  doing,  unwittingly,  feather  producing  tendencies  are 
reduced. 

The  effect  of  slow  feathering  and  of  feathers  that  do  not 
grow  normally  or  are  of  irregular  formation  upon  the  shape  of 
the  fowls  and  especially  upon  the  shape  and  appearance  of  such 
sections  as  wings  and  tail  is  considerable. 

Type  vs.  Shape. — Usually  about  the  same  ideas  occur  to  us 
whether  we  hear  the  word  "type"  or  the  word  "shape."  How- 
ever, they  may  or  may  not  convey  the  same  meaning.  Shape 
may  be  more  specific,  as  when  used  with  reference  to  a  part  of 
the  bird  ;  that  is,  to  one  section  or  perhaps  to  more  than  one ; 
while  type,  as  generally  used,  refers  to  the  bird  as  a  whole. 
We  have  distinctions  here,  also,  as  breed  types  and  commercial 
types ;  that  is,  types  designated  according  to  adaptability  for  cer- 
tain uses ;  as  egg-types,  meat-types,  general-  or  dual-purpose 
types,  ornamental  types,  etc. 

Faulty  Types. — We  speak  of  a  bird  as  having  faulty  shape 
when  one  or  more  sections  are  defective ;  of  having  faulty  type 
when  one  or  more  sections  are  defective  in  such  a  way  as  to 
change  the  typical  appearance  of  the  bird  from  one  breed-type 
to  another.  A  Plymouth  Rock  female  by  a  combination  of  faulty 
back  and  leg  shape  might  become  more  of  a  Wyandotte  than  a 
Rock ;  that  is,  if  too  short  in  both  sections ;  by  faulty  back  and 
body  shape,  more  the  character  of  the  Rhode  Island  Red,  if  loo 
long  and  flat  in  back  and  too  shallow  in  body ;  a  Plymouth  Rock 
that  was  too  broad  and  deep  in  body  and  short  in  legs  might 
assume  somewhat  of  the  Cochin  type.  But  enough  has  br-cn 
related  to  show  the  importance  of  correct  type  in  the  bird  as  a 
whole,  and  what  is  necessary  to  secure  it — good  shape  in  every 
section. 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  137 

CHAPTER  V. 

MATING    TO    OVERCOME    DEFECTS    IN    SHAPE 

"Shape  makes  the  breed,  color  the  variety."  Then,  as  typical 
Plymouth  Rocks  are  primarily  desired  from  our  matings,  we 
must  look  closely  and  well  to  the  characters  required  to  obtain 
better  formed  specimens. 

The  Importance  of  Shape. — So  often  does  the  impression 
exist  that  color  is  of  primary  and  shape  of  secondary  importance 
with  the  breeder  of  Standard  fowls  that  a  brief  discourse  on  the 
above  topic  seems  advisable.  Such  an  impression  is  erroneous 
and  far  from  the  letter  and  the  spirit  of  the  Standard.  Shape, 
in  fact,  with  the  more  practical  breeds,  counts  more  than  color. 

Why  Shape  Counts  More  Than  Color. — We  must  ever  recall 
that  "shape  makes  the  breed."  Without  typical  shape,  breed- 
types  are  destroyed.  A  Plymouth  Rock  is  not  typical  Plymouth 
Rock  merely  because  it  has  a  single  comb,  smooth  legs  and  the 
color  and  markings  of  one  of  the  Plymouth  Rock  varieties.  It 
must  first  have  Plymouth  Rock  shape.  Shape  is  of  first  impor- 
tance because  breed  comes  first  and  without  shape  there  can  be 
neither  breed  nor  variety.  Faulty  color  injures  the  variety  only, 
but  faults  in  shape  injure  both  our  ideals.  A  specimen  quite 
faulty  in  color  has  no  standing  with  the  variety  of  which  it  is 
a  member,  but  a  specimen  that  is  seriously  faulty  in  shape  has 
no  standing  with  the  breed  which  it  is  supposed  to  represent, 
and  as  variety  is  but  a  "sub-division  of  the  breed,"  it  can  have 
no  standing  as  a  representative  of  either  a  breed  or  of  a  variety 
of  that  breed. 

Breed  characteristics  are  vastly  more  important  than  those 
of  the  variety ;  for  breed  characteristics  represent  practical  quali- 
ties upon  which  the  foundation  of  every  branch  of  the  poultry 
industry  rests.  Deprive  it  of  its  economic  value  as  a  food  supply 
and  this  industry  would  assume  merely  the  proportions  and  im- 
portance of  the  breeding  of  pet  dogs,  pet  cats,  cage  birds,  and 
kindred  fancies.  It  is  in  recognition  of  this  fact  that  the  Ameri- 
can Poultry  Association  has  made  breed  characteristics,  which 
are  synonymous  with  practical  qualities,  authoritatively  of  more 
importance  than  those  which  apply  to  variety,  representing  the 
attractive  features  only.  Breed  characteristics  are  described 
completely  by  one  word — shape — which  embraces  all  the  prac- 
tical qualities  of  a  fowl.    The  features  that  distinguish  varieties. 


138  AMERICAN  POVLTRY  ASSOCIATION 

PLATE  19 


DIFFERENT  CHARACT!  R   OF  PLUMAGE  AFFECTING  FORM   AND 
OUTLINE 

1.  Medium  widtli  ;nid  length  of  plumage,  compact  form,  smooth 
surface,  as  called   for  in  the  Standard  ideal   type. 

2.  Extremely  narrow  plumage,  with  little  undertluff.  Extremely  long 
plumage  flows  over  foim  of  body  but  does  not  add  so  much  to  roundness 
and  plumpness   of   ajjpea ranee. 

3.  Broad,  fluflfy  plumage,  causing  the  outlines  of  the  fowl  to  bulge 
and  appear  lumpy. 

4.  Narrow  p]umage,  with  medium  amount  of  fluff,  presenting  some- 
what  angular  outlines   of  body. 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  l<!TA^WARn  AND  BREED  BOOK  139 

a  difference  in  color,  markings,  shape  of  comb,  etc.,  are  merely 
accessories  that  make  fowls  attractive  and  likable.  The  problem 
of  correcting  faulty  shape,  because  it  is  a  breed  problem  and 
equally  applicable  to  all  varieties  of  Plymouth  Rocks,  should 
then  receive  our  first  and  most  serious  consideration. 

The  Influence  of  Health  on  Shape  and  Color. — Good  shaped 
specimens  are  always  healthy.  It  is  useless  to  expect  puny  birds 
to  be  good  in  shape.  Deep  bodies,  full,  round  breasts,  broad 
backs  and  stout  shanks  are  not  developed  by  any  but  the  most 
rugged  constitutions ;  but  these  are  characteristics  of  all  good 
Plymouth  Rocks. 

One  factor  in  the  production  of  color  has  occurred  to  but 
few,  but  it,  nevertheless,  is  a  most  important  one  because,  though 
a  bird  may  have  perfect  inheritance  along  color  lines,  it  will 
count  for  naught  if  it  is  without  health.  By  health  is  meant  con- 
tinuous health  from  birth.  A  sickness  of  but  a  week,  a  day  or 
an  hour  has  its  eft'ect.  Loss  of  natural  gloss  and  intensity  of 
color  are  sure  to  follow.  Whether  ill  health  utterly  destroys 
the  chances  of  winning  depends  upon  its  nature  and  duration. 
The  best  birds,  both  in  shape  and  in  color,  are  the  ones  that 
besides  inheriting  good  quality,  grow  normally  or  rapidly  from 
the  start,  and  are  always  in  excellent  health.  Health  affects 
shape  as  well  as  color.  In  order  to  grow  healthy  birds,  breed 
from  such  and  give  both  old  and  young  the  best  of  care. 

To  produce  good  shape  especially,  parents  that  are  ruggedly 
healthy  are  absolutely  necessary  to  succeed. 

An  Ideal  Mating. — An  ideal  mating  for  correct  form  would 
consist,  if  it  were  possible  to  obtain  them,  of  a  male  and  females 
that  were  perfect  according  to  our  Standard  ideals.  As  perfect 
specimens  never  exist,  ideal  matings  are  not  made.  That  being 
true,  a  model  mating  would  consist  of  both  male  and  females 
that  nearest  approached  our  ideals ;  that  is,  as  far  as  shape  is 
considered,  the  best  mating  that  it  is  possible  for  any  one  to 
make  is  to  place  with  the  best  male  procurable  the  best  females 
that  can  be  obtained.  When  so  mated,  a  large  per  cent  of  the 
progeny  will  be  as  good  as  their  parents  average,  in  some  cases 
better,  and  in  a  few  instances  the  specimens  v;ould  be  expected 
to  excel  both  parents  in  shape  requirements. 

A  few  generations  of  breeding  according  to  this  plan,  the 
best  shaped  male  mated  with  the  best  shaped  females,  may  be 
relied  upon  absolutely  to  establish  a  strain  of  any  variety  that 
will  excel  in  shape  requirements. 


140 


AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 


Other  Considerations. — It  often  seems  advisable,  and  un- 
doubtedly is  so,  to  use  in  our  matings  specimens  though  more 
or  less  deficient  in  shape,  yet  excellent  in  other  requirements,  as 
color,  markings,  head  points,  etc.,  and  the  question  then  becomes 
how  to  offset  these  shape  defects. 

Two  General  Methods. — In  a  general  way  there  are  but  two 
methods.  One  is  to  offset  a  defect  by  mating  to  a  bird  of  the 
opposite  sex  that  has  a  defect  of  such  a  character  as  to  counter- 
balance the  first  defect.  For  example,  a  male  has  a  comb  with 
but  three  or  four  points  and  is  mated  to  a  female  with  six 
points  on  her  comb.  This  is  a  fair  illustration  of  the  principle 
of  offsetting  one  defect  by  another  of  the  opposite  character. 
This  has  been  largely  practiced  by  breeders  in  the  past  and  is 
yet,  to  a  large  extent,  to  remedy  defects  of  all  kinds,  either  of 
color  or  shape. 

Of  late  the  most  advanced  idea  is  to  offset  all  defects  by 


PLATE  20 


SYMMETEY  AND  AWKWARDNESS 

1.  Symmetrical,  with  all  sections  properly  proportioned  in  relation 
to  each  other.     Outlines  of  graceful  sweeps  and  curves. 

2.  Unsymmetrical — sections    forming    angular    junctions    with    each 
other,  causing  awkward,  ungraceful  outlines.- — F.  L.   Sewell. 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK 


141 


mating  to  birds  that  are  near  perfection  in  the  character  in  which 
one  is  defective.  In  that  case,  a  male  with  a  four-point  comb 
would  be  mated  to  females  with  five-pointed  combs  if  possible. 
The  results  may  not  be  as  gratifying  the  first  year,  but  later 
they  will  be  much  more  so,  if  the  purpose  is  to  establish  a  strain 
in  which  a  five-point  comb  is  a  well  established  feature.  If  the 
first  principle  be  applied  for  the  purpose  of  offsetting  defects, 
besides  offsetting  too  few  points  with  too  many,  we  would  expect 
to  offset  too  large  combs  with  too  small,  blades  that  were  too 
short  with  those  too  long,  blades  too  broad  with  those  too 
narrow,  that  followed  the  head  too  closely  with  those  that  were 
elevated  too  much,  too  thin  combs  with  too   thick,  bases  that 


PLATE  21 


■•c?i..^ 


COERECTIVE  BREEDING— I 

With  male  too  short  and  too  concave  in  back  with  tail  carried  too 
high,  should  be  mated  female  with  back,  saddle  and  tail  showing  form 
inclined  to  look  more  flat  over  the  top  line.  While  always  seeking  to 
avoid  mating  types  that  possess  extreme  differences,  it  will  be  needful 
to  avoid  mating  together  individuals  that  show  similar  extremes. — F.  L. 
Sewell. 


142 


AM  ERIC  AX  POULTRY  A.Sf.S'OC/AT/O.Y 


were  too  narrow  with  those  that  are  too  deep,  too  long  points 
with  too  short,  uneven  serration  with  even,  bulges  in  comb  with 
a  smooth  comb,  and  vice  versa. 

If  the  second  principle  was  applied,  all  these  defective  combs 
would  be  offset  by  one  as  near  perfection  as  it  was  possible  to 
procure  on  a  living  specimen  of  the  opposite  sex,  depending  upon 
a  constant  application  of  this  principle  to  obtain  satisfactory 
results. 

In  some  of  the  previous  pages  an  endeavor  has  been  made  by 
combining  illustration  and  descriptive  text  to  inform  the  reader 
in  regard  to  the  most  common  defects  of  each  and  every  section. 
The  problem  for  the  reader,  if  he  be  a  breeder,  as  may  be  fairly 
assumed,  is  not  only  to  acquire  a  knowledge  of  the  faulty  shape 
in  all  its  different  phases,  but  to  become  acquainted  with  correct 
and  reliable  methods  of  eliminating  these  faults.     To  make  the 

PLATE  22 


COREECTIVE    BREEDING— II 


A  female  that  is  decidedly  coarse,  showing  too  strongly  the  Cochin 
ancestry  as  being  in  evidence  by  loose  plumage,  short  wings,  pronounced 
fluflf  and  side  cushion,  as  well  as  too  deep  body  and  rather  short  legs. — 
F.  L.  Sewell. 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  A^W  BREED  BOOK 


143 


subject  of  mating  to  correct  faulty  shape  as  clear  as  possible, 
the  accompanying  sketches  should  be  carefully  studied  and  com- 
pared with  the  ideals. 

The  subject  of  corrective  mating  for  faulty  shape  can  be  so 
much  more  easily  and  quickly  understood  from  the  sketches  pre- 
sented that  extended  discourse  is  both  unnecessary  and  undesir- 
able. These  sketches  are  graphic  explanations  of  the  application 
of  corrective  mating  for  defective  shape  in  several  of  the  most 
commonly  occurring  forms.  The  explanations  are  based,  as  is 
stated,  upon  the  principle  of  corrective  mating  which  is  an  en- 
deavor on  the  part  of  the  breeder  to  offset  a  defect  of  one  sex 
by  mating  with  a  fowl  of  the  opposite  sex  that  has  the  opposite 
tendencies  in  the  same  section  or  has  most  pronounced  perfec- 
tion in  that  section. 

The  Two  Extremes. — As  an  introduction  to  the  subject,  the 
artist  has  contrasted  the  sketch  of  the  ideal  male  with  the  sketch 
of  a  very  unsymmetrical  or  unshapely  specimen.     One  of  the  two 

PLATE  23 


COEEECTIVE   BREEDING— III 

Because  of  excellencies  of  color  or  markings,  possibly  for  both 
reasons,  it  is  desirable  to  use  males  that  are  too  fine  in  bone  and  too 
light  bodied.  Such  males  must  be  mated  to  rather  large,  fully  developed 
and   splendidly  formed  females. 


144  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

sketches  presents  the  reader  the  sum  of  what  is  good  or  ideal, 
while  the  other  gives  graphically  almost,  if  not  quite,  a  com- 
plete conception  of  all  the  faults  to  which  a  fowl  is  heir,  or  at 
least,  all  the  most  common  ones.  Each  and  every  fault  could,  of 
course,  he  emphasized  or  enlarged  upon,  though  uselessly,  be- 
cause a  specimen  that  in  life  carried  a  fractional  proportion  of 
these  faults,  either  in  number  or  degree,  would  be  useless  as  a 
breeder.  As  a  rule,  specimens  that  are  seriously  considered  for 
breeding  purposes  have  no  more  than  one  or  at  the  most  two 
glaring  faults,  while  this  sketch  represents  every  glaring  fault 
in  each  and  every  section  from  comb  to  tail  and  tail  to  toes.  It 
gives,  however,  a  splendid  example  of  what  should  not  be,  and 
of  the  many  bad  features  to  avoid  when  selecting  a  breeding  male. 
(  See  illustration,  Plate  20.) 

Perfection  in  Shape  Unattained. — Though  it  is  unnecessary 


COREECTIVE   BREEDING— IV 

Very  often  it  happens  that  females  which  are  large,  vigorous  birds 
and  are  very  attractive  because  of  excellence  in  color  and  markings 
are  not  well  balanced,  being  too  long  in  front  and  too  short  behind 
the  hocks.  This  sketch  represents  such  a  female  and  portrays  the 
correct  conformation  of  a  suitable  mate. — F.  L.  Sewell. 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  145 

and  foolish  to  use  too  faulty  specimens  in  the  breeding  pen,  it  is 
equally  impossible  to  secure  those  that  are  perfect  in  shape, 
which  means  that  faults  of  greater  or  less  magnitude  in  breeding 
birds  must  be  condoned  and  corrected  by  skillful  mating  of  the 
sexes. 

Mates  for  High  Stationed,  Short  Bodied  Males. — The  artist 
first  presents  the  problem  of  mating  a  male  that  is  too  high  sta- 
tioned, too  short  in  back  and  too  long  and  rather  pinched  in  tail, 
that  on  the  whole  leans  decidedly  to  the  typical  shape  of  the 
Langshan.  The  sketch  next  presented  shows  a  female  with 
opposite  tendencies — a  long,  rather  too  flat  back  and  tail  that  is 
carried  at  a  low  angle ;  a  deep,  full  body,  rather  short  shanks  and 
head  too  far  forward  in  order  to  counteract  the  too  upright 
carriage  of  the  male.    (See  illustration,  Plate  21.) 

Mates  for  Coarse  Females. — The  second  sketch  presents  the 
problem  of  mating  a  female  that  is  decidedly  coarse.  As  we 
note  the  full,  loose  feathering  and  beefy  characteristics,  the  large 
head,  too  full  and  broad  neck,  closely  tucked  and  short  wings, 
back  slightly  cushioned  at  sides,  the  very  full  breast  and  side 
fluff — all  told,  her  body  is  too  short,  broad  and  deep.  For  her 
mate  a  male  is  selected,  that  while  it  closely  resembles  the  Stand- 
ard, is  still  a  little  long  with  a  well  concaved  back,  a  little  too 
shallow  and  a  little  too  long  in  the  body.  (See  illustration. 
Plate  22.) 

Mates  for  Light  Bodied  Males. — The  third  problem  in  mating 
is  another  that  often  presents  itself ;  that  of  selecting  for  a  male 
that  lacks  full  development  in  body  a  female  that  will  correct  this 
serious  defect.  Males  that  excel  so  much  in  plumage  and  head 
points  are  often  poorly  developed  or  lack  frame  or  bone,  as  the 
expression  is.  Such  males  should  be  mated  with  females  that 
have  bone,  that  is,  size  and  weight,  and  are  splendidly  formed  in 
those  sections  in  which  the  male  is  weak.  Light  bodied  males, 
or  those  that  are  of  light  frame  or  light  in  bone,  are  almost 
always  deficient  in  breast,  short  and  shallow  in  front  of  thighs, 
have  too  deep  a  curvature  in  back  and  carry  the  tail  too  high. 
Compared  with  the  body,  the  tail  looks  long.  We  see  these  ten- 
dencies shown  in  this  sketch  and  note  easily  the  full,  well- 
rounded  breast,  broad,  full  back  and  short,  well-spread  tail  of 
the  female  that  is  carried  rather  low,  characters  that  are  sure  to 
have  a  corrective  influence  with  reference  to  the  faults  of  this 
male  upon  the  progeny  of  such  a  pair.  (See  illustration,  Plate  23.) 


146 


AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 


Mates  for  Short  Bodied  Females. — The  fourth  sketch  pre- 
sents the  problem  of  selecting  the  male  mate  for  a  female  that 
is  too  short  in  the  rear  or  behind  a  line  dropped  perpendicularly 
at  the  rear  of  the  hock  joints.  The  effect  of  such  conformation 
is  to  tip  the  body  forward — that  is,  to  give  it,  as  it  is  often  ex- 
pressed, a  "ploughy"  carriage.  The  male  is  long  in  both  back 
and  body  with  a  slight  tendency  toward  too  upright  carriage. 
Besides  the  fault  already  mentioned,  the  female,  as  represented, 
has  others  of  moment ;  too  long  a  tail  which  is  carried  too  up- 
rightly, a  slightly  cushioned  back  which  is  also  pinched  at  the 
sides  and  a  croppy  breast.  The  male  with  its  broad  back,  very 
fully  covered  with  saddle  hangers  at  the  sides  and  at  the  same 
time  rather  flat  on  top,  is  well  selected  to  correct  what  tendency 


PLATE  25 


COREECTIVE  BREEDING— V 

With  female  predisposed  to  accumulate  abdominal  fat  too  easily, 
it  is  well  to  use  a  male  of  the  opposite  temperament — one  that  is  active 
and  sprightly. 

With  female  possessing  too  much  fluff  on  the  plumage,  a  male  with 
plumage  inclined  to  firmness  and  fineness  and  narrower  in  feather  should 
help  to  correct  and  produce  plumage  in  the  offspring  nearer  to  Standard. 

Legs  too  short  in  the  female  should  be  mated  to  males  with  legs 
slightly  above  the  average  in  length. — F.  L.  Sewell. 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  147 

the  progeny  may  have  to  follow  the  dam  in  this  respect.  The 
breast  of  the  male  also  presents  a  clean,  true  outline  which 
should  counteract  the  too  full  line  of  the  female  in  this  section. 
(See  illustration,  Plate  24.) 

Males  for  Heavy  Bodied  Females. — The  fifth  problem  and 
the  correct  solution  of  which  is  particularly  important  in  view 
of  the  very  general  tendency  among  females  to  take  on  an  excess 
of  flesh,  particularly  in  the  abdomen  after  their  first  year,  is  to 
select  males  for  these  females  with  shallow  bodies  in  rear,  or 
shallow  abdomens,  but  with  good  breast  development  and  good 
top  lines.  Such  males  have,  as  a  rule,  rather  long  shanks  and 
are  rather  highly  posted,  which  is  desirable  in  a  male  for  a  mate 
to  a  female  of  the  above  description.    (See  illustration,  Plate  25.) 


SECTION     II. 

CHAPTER   I. 
BARRED  PLYMOUTH  ROCK  PLUMAGE 

STANDARD    DESCRIPTION 
Disqualifications 

RED  in  any  part  of  plumage ;  two  or  more  solid  black  pri- 
maries,  secondaries   or  main   tail    feathers ;   shanks   other 
than  yellow,  dark  spots  not  to  disqualify.     (See  general 
and  Plymouth  Rock  disqualifications.) 

COLOR   OF   MALE   AND    FEMALE 

Beak. — Yellow. 

Eyes. — Reddish-bay. 

Comb,  Face,  Wattles  and  Ear-Lobes.— Bright  red. 

Shanks  and  Toes. — Yellow. 

Plumage. — Grayish-white,  each  feather  crossed  by  regular, 
narrow,  parallel,  sharply  defined,  dark  bars  that  stop  short  of 
positive  black ;  free  from  shafting,  brownish  tinge  or  metallic 
sheen ;  the  light  and  dark  bars  to  be  of  equal  width,  in  number 
proportionate  to  length  of  feathers,  and  to  extend  throughout 
the  length  of  feathers  in  all  sections  of  the  fowl ;  each  feather 
ending  with  a  narrow,  dark  tip  ;  the  combination  of  overlapping 
feathers  giving  the  plumage  a  bluish  appearance  and  of  one  even 
shade  throughout. 

COLOR    OF    PLUMAGE    AND    ITS    COMMON    DEFECTS 

From  the  Standard  description  of  plumage  for  Barred  Plym- 
outh Rocks,  one  may  discern  immediately  that  it  may  have  de- 
fects of  two  general  characters :  first,  the  fundamental  colors 
may  vary  from  the  ideal ;  second,  the  barring  may  be  irregular, 
but  in  both  characters  the  defects  may  have  many  variations. 
By  considering  the  very  well  expressed  and  accurate  descrip- 
tion of  the  Standard,  thoughtfully  and  wnth  a  strict  and  broad 
usage  of  each  and  every  term  employed  in  this  description,  one 

148 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  149 

should  detect  every  fault  known  to  a  barred  feather.  But  it  is 
not  often  that  a  novice  discovers  one-half,  or  even  one-fourth  of 
them.  For  this  reason,  instruction  along  this  line  is  necessary 
and  an  enumeration  of  all  the  faults  of  both  characters  that  com- 
monly occur  is  advisable.  It  is  natural  that  we  should  discuss 
the  colors  before  the  barring,  because  it  is  the  difference  or  con- 
trast between  the  two  colors  that  is  in  reality  the  making  of 
the  bars. 

The  Ground  Color. — This  is  described  as  grayish-white  and 
we  call  grayish-white  the  ground  color,  not  because  the  Standard 
uses  the  term  "ground  color,"  but  because  the  plumage  is  de- 
scribed as  "grayish  white,  each  feather  crossed  by,  etc.,"  which 
indicates  clearly  enough  that  grayish-white  is  the  major  or 
ground  color.  It  must  be  considered  not  absolutely  independ- 
ently, but  in  connection  with  its  relation  to  the  "dark  bars  that 
stop  short  of  positive  black."  Grayish-white  is  very  near  white. 
The  nearer  white  we  get  the  light  bar  or  ground  color,  the 
greater  the  contrast  between  the  light  and  dark  bars — that  is, 
when  the  dark  bars  retain  the  same  intensity ;  contrast,  within 
certain  limits  which  are  fittingly  governed  by  the  Standard  de- 
scription, is  desired,  as  it  adds  much  to  the  attractiveness  of  the 
birds.  Breeders  speak  admirably  of  this  or  that  specimen  be- 
cause of  "such  a  snappy  contrast,"  and  the  expression  is  truly 
expressive  of  a  condition  that  is  a  creator  of  beauty  in  a  Barred 
Plymouth  Rock. 

Formerly  the  Standard  description  read  a  bluish-white,  but 
this  modified  the  pure  white  more  than  the  term  "grayish"  and 
consequently  was  changed  because  it  did  not  furnish  as  great  a 
contrast  and  therefore  not  as  "snappy"  barring. 

The  Dark  Bar. — There  is  much  to  notice  in  the  Standard 
maker's  selection  of  the  term.  It  carefully  avoids  the  word  black, 
except  to  say  that  positive  black  is  what  the  bar  must  not  be. 
This  clause,  "stop  short  of  positive  black,"  prohibits  all  lustre, 
sheen,  or  gloss.  For  the  sake  of  contrast,  however,  it  is  desirable 
to  approach  if  not  to  attain  a  positive  black.  One  writer  has 
stated  this  proposition  in  these  words :  "The  whiter  the  white 
bar  and  the  darker  the  dark  bar,  the  more  beautiful  the  bird." 
It  is  certainly  true  that  the  converse  of  what  was  stated  about 
the  light  bar  is  true  of  the  dark  bar — that  is,  the  darker  they 
are  the  greater  the  contrast  between  the  dark  and  light  bars ; 
provided,  of  course,  that  the  light  bars  are  of  the  same  shade 
in  all  cases.    Previous  Standards  have  described  the  dark  bar  as 


150  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

"bars  of  dark  blue  that  stop  short  of  positive  black."  This  was 
misleading,  as  there  was  no  "blue"  to  be  seen  and  all  that  ever 
existed  was  the  product  of  imagination  and  not  breeding.  Blue- 
black  was  another  term  used,  but  the  only  reason  given  by  any 
one  for  the  use  of  the  term  blue  was  that  it  excluded  any  brown 
shades.  This  the  present  Standard  does  by  explicitly  stating 
that  the  dark  and  light  bars  as  well  shall  be  ''free  from  shafting, 
brownish  tinge  or  metallic  sheen."  Brown  is  not  a  desirable 
shade  in  Barred  Plymouth  Rocks ;  in  fact,  any  suggestion  of  it 
is  harmful  because  it  mars  the  appearance  which  the  overlapping 
feathers  give  the  plumage  when  viewed  in  certain  light  reflec- 
tions. Metallic  sheen  is  not  sought,  as  obviously  that  affects 
the  bluish  appearance  as  well  as  the  brownish  shades.  Of  the 
two,  however,  the  sheen  is  many,  many  times  to  be  preferred,  as 
it  denotes  strength  of  the  dark  bar  and  as  a  breeding  quality  is 
often  a  desirable  attribute,  as  explained  in  articles  on  mating. 

Shafting. — The  shaft  of  the  feather  is  often  light  where  it 
should  be  dark,  for  the  dark  bar  should  run  through  the  shaft. 
That  is,  the  shaft  should  be  the  same  color  and  shade  as  the  bar 
at  right  angles  with  it ;  where  the  bar  is  light  the  shaft  should 
be  the  same  shade ;  where  the  bar  is  dark  the  shaft  should  match. 
Sometimes  the  shafts  are  noticeable  because  they  are  lighter  than 
the  corresponding  bar.  Often  the  shaft  in  the  light  bar  is  still 
lighter  than  the  bar.  This  gives  the  effect  of  three  colors, 
whereas  only  two  are  called  for  and  only  two  desired. 

Width  of  Bars. — "The  light  and  dark  bars  to  be  of  equal 
width."  This  statement  is  clear.  l)ut  it  does  not  designate  the 
width.  We  find  the  bar  further  defined  by  the  word  "narrow," 
occuring  in  the  clause,  "each  feather  crossed  by  regular,  narrow, 
parallel,  sharply  defined  dark  bars,"  etc.  This  descriptive  ad- 
jective is  well  used,  for  ihe  tendency  for  a  number  of  years  has 
been  to  narrow  the  bars.  In  fact,  that  has  been  one  of  the  lead- 
ing aims  of  all  progressive  Barred  Plymouth  Rock  breeders  for 
years  past.  By  requiring  narrow  bars  and  bars  of  equal  width  at 
the  same  time,  both  light  and  dark  bars  must  be  narrow.  Twenty 
years  ago  and  previously,  the  light  bars  were  much  the  wider  of 
the  two,  but  the  ideal  of  straight  across,  narrow  barring  became 
more  and  more  sought  and  the  width  of  the  light  bar  was  grad- 
ually reduced  until  the  dark  bar  actually  on  many  of  the  winning 
specimens  became  the  stronger  or  wider,  and  this  is  actually  the 
condition  today  on  many  winning  specimens.  This  fact  need 
not  be  allowed  to  lead  any  one  into  the  belief  that  wider  dark 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK 


151 


bars  are  desired,  for  such  is  not  the  case.  Finely  or  closely 
barred  birds  are,  however,  most  emphatically  demanded  for  the 
show  room,  and  without  question  specimens  in  which  the  dark 
bar  slightly  predominates  appear  to  be  much  more  closely  barred 
than  those  on  which  the  light  bar  is  a  little  the  broader.  For 
this  reason,  if  one  bar  or  the  other  is  to  predominate,  all  breed- 
ers and  judges  as  well,  without  dissension,  prefer  that  it  should 
be  the  dark  bar. 

Direction  of  the  Bar. — The  ideal  bar  extends  straight  across 
the  feather — that  is,  at  right  angles  to  the  shaft.     Every  bar  is 


PLATE  26 


1  2  3  4 

BARRING  IN  BARRED  PLYMOUTH  ROCK  PLUMAGE 

Relative  width  of  bars:  1.  Broad.  2.  Medium.  ?>.  Narrow. 
4.     Extremely  narrow. 

Note — This  group  of  feathers  may  lead  to  the  conclusion  that 
broad  feathers  have  broad  bars  and  that  narrow  plumage  has  nnrrovv 
bars,  which  does  not  always  prove  to  be  the  case. 


152 


AMERICA'S!  POULTRY  ASl^OCIATIO^' 

PLATE  27 


1  1'  3  4  5  6 

SOME   OF   THE   DIFFERENT   CHARACTERISTICS   OF 

BARRING  FOUND  IN  BARRED  PLYMOUTH 

ROCK  PLUMAGE 

1.  Feather  from  wing-bar  of  a  very  dark  colored  male.  Dark  color 
very  predominant;  bars  very  coarse;  dark  bars  not  shari^ly  defined, 
inclined  to  blend  into  light  bars;  dark  bar  at  tip  is  very  much  narrower 
than  other  bars  of  this  feather. 

2.  Feather  from  breast  of  a  very  light  male.  Light  ashy-gray  bars 
very  coarse,  only  two  showing  plainly  across  the  web  or  surface;  tip 
wide  and  nearly  all  of  light  color  but  very  faintly  darkened  at  tip; 
fluflf   or   undercolor   nearly   white. 

3.  Feather  from  wing-bar  of  rather  dark  female.  Bars  few,  very 
coarse  and  broad;  unusually  broad,  dark  marking  at  tip;  only  two  dark 
bars  and  two  light  bars  across  web  proper;  one  strong  bar  across  where 
web  and  fluff  join;   one   faintlv  colored,  gray  bar  across  fluflf. 

4.  Feather  from  wing-bar  of  medium  colored  female.  Bright  con- 
trast between  dark  and  light  bars,  dark  bars  running  somewhat  into 
light  bars;  dark  bar  only  a  spot  at  tip  instead  of  a  well-defined  bar 
across  the  end;  light  bars  too  broad  toward  tip. 

5.  Feather  from  cushion  of  female,  darker  than  medium.  Dark 
bars  slightly  inclined  to  be  crescentic  in  web  and  even  more  erescentic 
in  fluflf;  barring  quite  regular  from  tip  to  base;  bar  at  tip  shows  slight 
grayish  edging   (or  frosting). 

6.  Feather  from  neck  of  medium  colored,  high  quality  female.  Dark 
and  light  barring  very  regular  in  web,  crossing  nearly  at  right  angle; 
bar  very  straight  at  this  point;  dark  and  light  bars  in  web  of  nearly 
same  width;  bar  at  tip  quite  correct;  barring  in  fluflf  not  quite  as  regular 
as  in  preceding  feather. 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  153 

supposed  to  take  this  direction.  (See  definition  of  barring  in 
glossary.)  This  makes  the  bars  parallel,  with  one  another.  Nar- 
row bars  of  equal  width,  all  parallel,  certainly  produce  some  very 
pleasing  effects,  but  owing  to  the  difficulty  of  producing  them, 
birds  that  possess  them  are  exceptionally  few.  Variations  from 
the  rule  taxe  many  different  forms.  In  the  first  place,  it  is  very 
difficult  to  produce  bars  that  run  absolutely  straight  across  the 
feathers.  It  has  been  approximated  in  the  plumage  of  the  female 
and  to  almost  the  same  degree  in  some  sections  of  the  male  plum- 
age, but  in.  hackle  and  saddle  there  remains  a  very  strong  ten- 
dency to  assume  a  \'-shaped  bar.  Breeders  have  made  great 
effort  during  recent  years  to  straighten  out  the  bars  in  these 
sections  and  not  without  some  degree  of  success,  for  the  bars 
in  these  sections  are  certainly  much  more  nearly  straight  than 
they  were  a  few  years  ago.  1  hat  is,  the  open  end  of  the  inverted 
V  is  much  wider  than  it  used  to  be.  In  fact,  the  \'  has  opened 
to  such  an  extent  that  the  effect  of  the  bars  in  these  sections  in 
some  of  the  specimens  that  excel  most  is  that  of  being  nearly 
straight  across  the  feather.  That  the  bars  are  not  absolutely 
straight  across  is  due  to  the  difficulty  of  breeding  bars  that  will 
be  straight  in  the  center  of  the  feathers  of  these  afore-named 
male  sections.  Bars,  even  in  these  sections,  are  straight  enough 
to  be  so-called  in  the  border  or  web  of  the  feather,  but  seem  to 
follow  the  direction  of  the  barbs  of  the  feather  in  the  center. 
Thus,  the  construction  of  the  feather  in  these  sections  seems  to 
be  the  obstacle  to  overcome.  Bars  are  much  more  nearly  straight 
in  the  sections :  breast,  wing-coverts,  main  tail  and  tail-coverts, 
in  which  this  construction  of  the  feather  is  less  pronounced. 

Because  the  border  or  thinly  barbed  portion  of  the  feather  is 
much  more  narrow  in  nearly  all  sections,  structurally,  the  female 
plumage  resembles  that  of  male  breast  and  wing-coverts  rather 
than  the  hackle  and  saddle  plumage,  which  is  quite  different. 
If  the  bars  are  ideal,  that  is,  coincide  with  the  definition  of 
"barring,"  the  two  edges  will  be  parallel  and  will  have  what 
some  breeders  call  "square"  or  "square-edged"  bars ;  that  is, 
bars  that  meet  the  edges  of  the  feather  at  right  angles,  which 
would  not  be  the  case  if  the  bars  were  "curved"  or  V-shaped  in- 
stead of  straight  across. 

Bars  are  sometimes  "notched"  or  "scalloped,"  that  is,  while 
they  seem  straight  at  the  edges  of  the  feathers  they  do  not  main- 
tain this  direction   throughout  their  entire   length   but  become 


154  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

FOUE  DEGREES  OF  QUALITY  IN  COLOR  AND  BARRING  ON  NECK 

OF  BARRED  PLYMOUTH  ROCKS 

PLATE  28 

1  2  3  4 


Upper  Row:      Male,  1— 
Lower  Row:     Female,  1 


6  7 

-Ordinary,  2 — Good,  3— 
—Ordinary,  2— Good,  3- 


Very   Good,  4 — Idealized. 
-Very  Good,  4 — Idealized. 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  155 

slightly  V-shaped  at  or  near  the  center.  This  is,  of  course,  not 
desirable  and  manifestly  does  not  conform  to  the  description  of 
the  Standard  for  Barred  Plymouth  Rock  color  nor  the  definition 
of  "barring." 

Definition. — "Sharply  defined"  is  another  adjective  applied  to 
"bar"  in  the  Standard  for  Barred  Plymouth  Rocks.  This  means 
that  the  ime  of  separation  between  the  light  and  dark  bars  shall 
1)6  sharp  and  definite.  This  line  of  separation  should  be  as 
sharply  defined  as  though  drawn  with  a  chisel-edged  pencil.  Too 
often  the  definition  between  the  dark  and  light  is  gradual  rather 
than  sharp.  Another  fault  along  the  same  line  is  the  extending 
of  fine  dark  lines  into  the  light  bars.  When  this  fault  is  so  pro- 
nounced that  it  becomes  noticeable,  the  plumage  presents  an 
appearance  more  speckled  than  barred. 

Undercolor.— Underbarring  is  really  what  undercolor  means 
in  a  Barred  Plymouth  Rock.  Because  of  the  clause  requiring 
"bars  extending  the  entire  length  of  the  feather,"  the  under- 
barring  should  be  clear  and  distinct,  though  the  intensity  of  the 
dark  underbar  is  never  of  the  same  degree  as  of  the  surface  bar 
and  consequently  the  same  sharp  definition  can  not  be  expected. 
Yet,  the  colors  should  be  clear,  the  barring  comparatively  dis- 
tinct and  free  from  shafting.  The  regular,  narrow,  parallel  bars 
should  extend  to  the  skin. 

Surface  Color. — The  surface  color  should  be  clear,  clean, 
bright  and  snappy.  By  this  we  mean  free  from  foreign  color, 
any  tinge  of  brown  or  yellow,  etc.  What  are  known  as  rusty 
shades  occur  even  in  well-bred  birds,  though  such  must  be  rather 
inferior  specimens  even  if  well  bred.  This  means  that  brown  is 
mixed  with  the  color  of  the  plumage  to  a  lesser  or  greater  ex- 
tent. This  is  seen  most  commonly  in  the  shoulder,  center  of 
back  and  wing-bows,  more  often  in  males  than  in  females  and 
is  more  apt  to  be  present  in  old  than  in  young  birds.  Sometimes 
natural  fading  of  the  dark  bar  is  responsible  for  its  presence 
but  more  often  it  is  in  the  specimen  because  of  its  inheritance. 
On  the  edge  of  the  dark  bars  is  where  this  shade  shows  most 
plainly. 

Crocky  shades  are  seen  and  the  term  refers  to  a  seemingly 
thin  veneer  of  black  over  the  plumage  of  the  bird,  as  though 
someone  with  soiled  hands  had  stroked  the  bird  rapidly.  Need- 
less to  state,  this  mars  the  appearance  of  the  bird  so  decidedly 
that  an  otherwise  meritorious  specimen  becomes  of  doubtful 
value. 


156 


AMERICAX  POULTRY  ASf^OCIATION 


PLUMAGE   SHOWING   THREE   DEGREES  OF  QUALITY   IN   COLOR 

AND  BARRING  ON  WING  PRIMARIES.     BARRED 

PLYMOUTH   ROCK   MALE 

PLATE  29 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  157 

PLUMAGE   SHOWING   THEEE  DEGEEES  OF  QUALITY   IN   COLOR 

AND  BARRING  ON  WING  PRIMARIES,  BARRED 

PLYMOl^TH  ROCK  FEMALES 

PLATE  30 


12  3 

1 — Ordinary.     2 — Very  Good.     3 — Idealized. 


158  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

Barred  Plymouth  Rocks,  like  white  fowl,  often  show  brassi- 
ness  or  creaminess.  This  is  because  the  ground  color  or  light  bar 
is  not  clear  and  in  this  case  show  yellow,  giving  as  a  whole  the 
brassy  or  creamy  appearance. 

MATING    TO   PRODUCE    EXHIBITION    SPECIMENS 

The  breeding  of  Barred  Plymouth  Rocks,  even  of  the  high- 
est exhibition  merit,  is  not  as  difficuh  as  is  generally  thought. 
The  breeder  who  starts  with  good  individual  specimens  and  fol- 
lows a  few  simple  and  established  laws  of  mating  can  be  as- 
sured of  success  from  the  beginning. 

It  is  admitted  that  the  best  exhibition  specimens  are  pro- 
duced by  the  double  mating  system,  which  to  many  seems  to  be 
hard  to  understand,  but  which  in  practice  is  simplicity  itself,  or 
if  complicated,  is  no  more  so  than  the  single  mating  system,  ex- 
cept that  we  have  two  systems  to  deal  with  instead  of  one.  By 
double  mating,  we  in  many  ways  simplify  our  breeding  scheme 
because  we  eliminate  the  problem  of  balancing  the  influence  of 
the  two  sexes  as  to  color,  which  is  the  most  difficult  one  involved 
in  the  single  or  standard  mating  system.  The  double-mating 
system  is  undoubtedly  more  universally  used  and  understood  by 
breeders  of  Barred  Plymouth  Rocks  than  by  those  of  any  other 
variety.  The  general  principles  of  this  system  have  been  ex- 
plained in  the  preceding  section  and  only  the  special  application 
of  these  principles  to  Barred  Plymouth  Rocks  remain  to  be  made 
clear. 

Double  matings  are  necessary  to  produce  standard  colored 
specimens  of  both  sexes  because  in  any  mating,  be  it  according 
to  the  single  or  double  mating  systems,  the  males  will  come 
several  shades  lighter  than  the  females,  while  the  Standard,  by 
descriljing  the  color  of  both  male  and  female  in  exactly  the  same 
words,  calls  for  the  different  sexes  to  match  in  the  showroom.  To 
acconii)lish  this  task  very  dark  matings  are  used  to  keep  the  males 
dark  enough  to  rnatch  the  females,  and  comparatively  light 
matings  to  produce  females  light  enough  to  match  the  males. 

We  have  a  standard  description  for  shape,  such  that  males 
and  females  correspond ;  that  is,  males  and  females  of  stand- 
ard shape,  when  mated  together,  produce  standard  shape 
specimens  of  both  sexes.  That  this  statement  is  approximately 
true  is  proved  by  the  fact  that  very  few  breeders  make  special 
matings  to  overcome  shape  differences  in  the  sexes  of  any  of 
the  Standard  breeds  and  varieties.  Barred  Plymouth  Rocks 
are  no  exception  to  the  laws  that  govern  the  breeding  of  other 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  159 

varieties  of  Plymouth  Rocks  as  far  as  conformation  is  involved ; 
therefore,  the  general  treatise  upon  that  topic  will  apply ;  no 
special  treatise  being  necessary.  Naturally,  then,  this  chapter 
will  be  expected  to  omit  such  a  treatise  and  deal  with  the  prob- 
lems of  breeding  exact  color  and  correct  markings. 

The  Chief  Difficulty. — It  is  a  well  known  and  universally 
recognized  fact  among  the  well  informed  along  these  lines  of 
endeavor  that  the  Barred  Rock  males  are  as  a  general  occur- 
rence lighter  in  shade  of  color  than  the  females. 

This  phenomenon  of  light  colored  males  and  darker  colored 
females  from  the  same  parents  is  not  thoroughly  understood. 
Many  have  sought  to  explain  it  by  stating  that  the  male  of  the 
original  cross  was  light  and  the  female  black ;  hence  produced 
light  males  and  darker  females.  That  this  explanation  is  no 
explanation  at  all,  everyone  at  all  familiar  with  the  laws  of 
breeding  recognizes. 

The  very  first  breeders  of  this  variety  discovered  that  the 
males  from  the  same  matings  were  much  lighter  than  the  fe- 
males. We  have  in  Mr.  Upham's  account  the  statement  that 
the  first  cross  of  Spaulding's  produced  females  most  of  which 
were  black  and  that  but  few  were  gray,  while  all  the  males 
were  gray.  Mr.  Ramsdell  makes  the  same  statement.  Thereby, 
we  learn  from  the  beginning  the  females  came  much  darker 
than  the  males  and  this  tendency  was  much  more  pronounced 
in  the  earliest  days  than  later.  It  would  appear  that  skillful 
mating  has  overcome  this  tendency  slowly,  gradually  and  to  a 
certain  extent  only,  because  the  existence  of  such  a  tendency 
we  can  not  deny  even  at  the  present  day,  over  fifty  years  since 
the  origin  of  the  variety ;  but  still,  skillful  breeding,  certainly, 
must  be  conceded,  because  improvement  in  every  way,  the  evi- 
dence of  which  is  on  either  hand  in  every  community  in  the 
land  and  nearly  every  country  on  the  globe,  yet  there  must  be 
a  strongly  dominant  influence,  naturally  inherent  in  this  variety, 
when,  after  fifty  years,  an  undesirable  tendency,  to  eliminate 
which  every  effort  has  been  made,  will  show  itself  even  in  the 
slightest  degree.  The  student  is  anxious  to  understand  and  de- 
mands a  plausible  theory  of  explanation.  The  breeder  ques- 
tions why,  so  that  he  may  overcome  this  tendency  as  fully  as 
possible  or  more  completely  than  his  competitor. 

The  Generally  Accepted  Explanation.— A  few  explanations 
of  varied  character  have  been  offered  and  the  one  that  is  the 


1(50  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 


THEEE    DEGEEES    OF    QUALITY    IN    COLOR    AND    BARRING    ON 

WING   SECONDARIES,  BARRED   PLYMOUTH 

ROCK  MALE 

PLATE  31 


1  2  3 

1 — Ordinary.      2 — Very  Good.     3 — Idealized. 


PIAUOITH    h'OCh    ST.WDAh'l)    AM)    Hh'EIJD    1UK)K         ICl 


THREE    DEGREES    OF    QUALITY    IN    COLOR    AND    BARRING    ON 

WING   SKCONDAKIES,  BARRED  PLYMOUTH  ROCK 

FEMALE 


PLATE  32 


1 — Ordinary.     2 — Very  Good.     3 — Idealized 


162  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

least  sound  in  both  logic  and  science,  strange  as  it  may  seem — 
the  explanation  flimsy  as  it  is,  that  the  tendency  of  the  females 
to  become  darker  with  each  generation  when  not  checked  by 
skillful  mating  or  when  unskillfully  mated  is  explained  by  the 
simple  fact  that  the  female  of  the  first  cross  was  so  very  dark, 
black  in  fact,  and  contrawise  the  males  are  comparatively  light 
because  the  male  of  the  first  cross  was  light.  This  explana- 
tion (?)  is  so  clear,  direct  and  logical  that  it  has  been  accepted 
by  those  of  our  breeders  who  demand  explanations  before  they 
proceed  with  their  work  as  so  apparent  as  not  to  require  proof. 
It  has  then  become  an  axiom  in  their  breeding  code.  Fortun- 
ately,* it  is  the  fact  with  which  these  easily  satisfied  persons 
dealt  and  must  deal,  rather  than  a  supposition  or  a  theory.  In 
the  minor  details  of  plumage,  or  type  characters,  the  people  who 
accept  this  superficiality  do  not  expect  the  male  progeny  to 
inherit  all  the  qualities  of  the  sire  nor  the  female  progeny  to 
inherit  all  the  characteristics  of  the  dam.  Instead,  we  have  a 
case  of  mixed  inheritance,  the  laws  of  which  are  so  complicated 
and  mystical  that  they  defy  comprehension,  not  to  allude  to  an 
explanation. 

Bishop's  Explanation. — The  nearest  to  an  explanation  of  this 
phenomenon  of  light  males  and  darker  females  which  the  writer 
has  seen  was  offered  by  the  Rev.  D.  D.  Bishop,  a  breeder  of 
both  Barred  Plymouths  and  Dominiques,  nearly  forty  years  ago. 
Yet  that  is  hardly  an  explanation  because  the  question  why 
still  remains  unanswered.  The  fact  that  this  phenomenon  is 
characteristic  in  all  Dominique  colored  fowls  is,  however,  well 
brought  out  in  the  following  paragraphs  selected  from  the 
work  referred  to  at  the  beginning  of  the  paragraph,  "The 
Plymouth  Rock." 

"The  most  important  and  striking  characteristic  that  pre- 
sents itself  to  a  student  of  Plymouth  Rocks  is  the  peculiar  dif- 
ference in  the  color  effect  in  the  two  sexes.  First,  last  and 
always  the  males  come  lighter  than  the  females.  It  is  a  thing 
we  must  never  forget  in  dealing  with  this  breed.  It  will  beat 
us  if  we  do  but  we  shall  never  beat  that.  It  is  in  the  birds ; 
it  is  the  law  of  this  color  that  the  males  will  not  only  be  sev- 
eral shades  lighter  in  color,  but  the  width  of  the  bars  will  be 
about  one-third  of  the  light  spaces  between  them.  It  is  a  very 
light  pullet  that  has  the  space  between  the  bars  equal  in  width 
to  the  bars  themselves,  and  from  that  the  spaces  grow  less  all 
the  way  down  to  no  space  at  all,  or  solid  color. 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  163 

"The  Dominique  presents  the  same  characteristics — in  fact, 
the  Plymouth  Rock  inherits  this  peculiarity,  with  its  color,  from 
the  Dominique,  and  wherever  you  find  the  Dominique  color, 
in  Leghorns  or  anywhere  else,  you  find  the  same  law  to  govern. 
The  observation  of  this  law  will  be  taken  up  in  the  chapter 
on  breeding,  so  that  I  shall  not  follow  it  further  at  this  time,  but 
just  here  I  will  say  that  the  fact  must  be  accepted  as  a  law  and 
not  regarded  as  a  mere  eccentricity.  The  color  difference  be- 
tween the  male  and  the  female  is  really  much  less  in  the  Dom- 
inique color  than  in  many  others.  As  soon  as  you  get  outside 
of  the  solid  colors — as  white  and  black — the  utmost  diversity 
is  manifested.  The  tyro  refuses  to  credit  the  statement  that  the 
Partridge  Cochin  cock  and  hen  are  of  the  same  breed.  The 
Dark  Brahma  shows  as  wide  a  difference  between  sexes,  and 
what  could  be  more  unlike  than  the  cocks  and  hens  of  the 
various  Games  and  Pheasants,  all  the  way  to  the  songbirds  as 
gaily  light  as  the  butterflies  themselves  ? 

"The  law  of  variation  between  male  and  female  is  Nature's 
law,  and  not  an  eccentricity  confined  to  this  particular  breed 
of  fowls." 

H.  H.  Stoddard,  for  years  editor  and  publisher  of  the 
Poultry  World,  of  Hartford,  Conn.,  has  written  so  interestingly 
on  this  topic  of  the  difference  in  male  and  female  color  that  we 
quote  from  his  work,  "The  Plymouth  Rocks,"  of  1880: 

"Yet  it  may  be  doubted  whether  we  ever  can  produce 
Plymouth  Rocks  that  shall  tend,  invariably,  to  produce  males  as 
dark  as  the  females,  and  females  as  light  as  the  males.  The  old 
Black  Java  hen  has  been  made  too  much  of  a  scapegoat.  There 
are,  no  doubt,  instances  in  the  animal  kingdom  where  traits 
originally  introduced  through  one  sex  tend  to  persist  in  that 
sex  alone.  But  experiments  in  mating  a  Black  Cochin  cock 
to  an  average  American  Dominique  hen  and  rearing  the  prod- 
ucts of  the  cross  for  three  generations  have  proved  that  the 
dark  pigment  still  appeared  chiefly  in  the  pullets  rather  than  in 
the  cockerels.  This  might  have  been  expected  in  advance,  be- 
cause analogy  teaches  it.  Nearly  all  our  breeds  whose  plum- 
age contains  both  light  and  dark  feathers,  or  markings,  nat^ 
urally  throw  males  whose  color  will  average  lighter  than  that 
of  the  females.  The  hackle  and  saddle  of  the  cock  incline  to 
be  lighter  than  the  corresponding  portions  of  the  hen  and 
certain  portions  of  his  tail  and  wings  contain  relatively  larger 
patches  of  white,  which   make  his   average   color   higher  than 


164  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

hers.      For   example,    S.    P.    Hamburgs.    S.    S.    Hamburgs    and 
Colored  Dorkings. 

"Again,  the  Black  Java  cocks,  like  the  Black  Cochin  males 
tend  toward  light  or  golden  saddles  and  hackles  and  the  Ameri- 
can Dominique  males  are  both  lighter  than  the  respective  females 
and  as  the  Plymouth  Rocks  are  based  on  these  two  breeds,  will 
the  time  ever  ccme  when  our  Plymouth  Rocks  will  average 
of  the  same  color  in  both  sexes?" 

It  must  be  admitted  that  there  appears  to  be  considerable 
truth  in  these  lines  of  reasoning  that  both  Bishop  and  Stod- 
dard pursued.  Certainly  many  other  examples  could  be  added 
to  those  given  ;  yet  it  can  not  be  conceded  to  be  a  law  of  nature 
that  is  ai)plicable  to  all  varieties  of  our  Standard  bred  fowls. 

The  Sexes  Must  Match  in  Color. — If  all  this  be  so,  why  not 
accept  the  light  m?.les  and  the  dark  females  ?  Why  adopt  ex- 
pediencies to  obviate  this  difficulty  which  is  unnatural  to  the 
fowl  itself? 

In  the  first  place,  the  American  Standard  of  Perfection  is 
the  guide  for  the  showroom  and  the  requirements  found  therein 
gives  one  description  for  the  color  of  both  sexes.  This  means 
that  males  and  females,  for  exhibition,  must  match  in  color. 
Then,  why  have  a  Standard  with  such  requirements  ?  Frankly. 
for  one  reason,  if  no  other,  the  light  males  and  dark  females 
are  not  admired  by  the  public,  the  breeders,  the  exhibitors 
or  the  judges  ;  and  upon  the  latter  the  breeder  is  dependent  for 
his  publicity. 

Advantages  of  Two  Matings. — Again,  the  same  female  in 
any  mating  of  parti-colored  varieties  is  never  the  dam  of  both 
the  best  cockerel  and  the  best  pullet.  This  fact  being  true,  the 
advantage  of  a  double-mating,  or  of  making  two  special  mat- 
ings, one  designed  to  produce  exhibition  males  and  the  other 
to  produce  high-class  exhibition  females,  should  be  at  once 
recognized. 

It  lies  in  the  fact  that  by  mating  exhibition  colored  males  to 
the  daughters  of  exhibition  colored  males,  males  that  are  of 
exhibition  color  are  produced.  Exhibition  females  are  produced 
by  just  as  simple  a  process.  The  sons  of  exhibition  colored  fe- 
males are  mated  to  exhibition  colored  females  and  females  of 
exhibition  color  are  thereby  produced.  This  simplifies  very  much 
the  task  of  producing  exhibition  color  because  we  may  depend 
upon  the  system  of  mating  to  accomplish  our  purpose.  The 
skillful  adjustments  of  balancing  the  influence  of  the  male  and 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  165 

of  each  individual  female  upon  the  color  of  the  progeny  is  not 
nearly  as  necessary  as  when  the  single  or  standard  mating  is 
used.  Further  than  that,  we  may  rely  upon  the  quality  of  the 
males  very  largely  to  determine  the  quality  of  the  male  progeny. 
Outside  of  her  ancestry,  the  appearance  of  the  female  of  the 
male  line  as  to  plumage  becomes  of  secondary  importance  under 
the  double-mating  system  ;  exactly  so  with  the  male  of  the  ex- 
hibition female  line. 

These  principles  and  facts  must  be  ever  coupled  with  tho'^e 
one  step  in  advance,  namely — the  higher  the  quality  of  the  par- 
ents, the  higher  that  of  the  offspring;  other  things,  of  course, 
being  equal ;  the  more  generations  that  quality  has  been  main- 
tained, the  more  certain  and  often  it  will  reproduce  itse'f. 

Special  Matings  an  Old  and  Established  Institution. — Double- 
mating  could  be  and  should  be  called  "special  mating,"  because 
this  term  indicates  accurately  just  what  it  is  designed  to  be  and 
should  be.  Double-matings  are  special  matings  for  each  sex. 
As  such  they  become  old  and  established  institutions,  as  long 
before  the  term  "double-mating"  was  used,  special  matings  to 
overcome  the  difficulty  of  breeding  males  and  females  of  the 
same  shade  were  employed.  Descriptions  of  such  matings  are 
found  in  most,  if  not  all,  the  works  on  Plymouth  Rocks. 

The  stage  to  which  thought  upon  this  question  had  ad- 
vanced at  this  time  (1880)  is  very  well  illuminated  by  Stoddard 
in  the  following  paragraphs  : 

"*  *  *  That  the  breed  will  ever  arrive  at  that  stage  where 
the  males  will  be  naturally  produced  as  dark  as  the  females 
we  very  much  doubt  and  till  that  time  arrives  we  must  make 
the  best  of  things  as  we  find  them,  and  at  the  same  time  try 
to  bring  about  that  state  of  things  as  well  as  we  know  how. 

"At  present  and  ever  since  the  breed  was  known  the  males 
have  'run  light'  and  the  hens  dark.  That  is,  in  every  yard  of 
Plymouth  Rocks  the  fowls  are  found  varying  in  color,  both 
cocks  and  hens.  Among  the  former  a  very  few  are  what  would 
be  called  dark,  a  considerable  number  medium,  and  a  large  num- 
ber light,  or  very  light,  so  that  they  may  be  called  light  as  a 
rule.  The  hens  are  in  greatly  preponderating  numbers,  very 
dark,  a  few  lighter  and  a  veiy  few  what  may  be  called  light,  or 
about  the  same  as  a  dark-medium  cockerel. 

"These  light  pullets  and  dark-medium  cockerels  match  in 
the  pen,  and  from  them  are  selected  the  exhibition  birds.     They 


166 


AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 


THREE    DEGREES    OF    QUALITY    IN    COLOR    AND    BARRING    ON 
TAIL   PROPER,   BARRED   PLYMOUTH    ROCK   MALE 

PLATE  33 


*^^. 

iP*'^^^'' 

.^••«^3    i#^»«i».': 

*^i*    €^N.i' 

1 — Ordinary.     2 — Very  Good.     3 — Idealized. 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  167 


THREE    DEGREES    OF    QUALITY    IN    COLOR    AND    BARRING    ON 
TAIL   PROPER,  BARRED  PLYMOUTH   ROCK  FEMALE 


PLATE  34 


12  3 

1 — Ordinary.     2 — Very  Good.     3 — Idealized. 


N.  C.  State  CJkge 

1(;8  AMERICAN  POULTRY  A.S'.S'Of /AT/O.Y 

are  desirable,  but  few ;  being  few  they  are  in  great  demand. 
Breeders  wish  to  mate  their  stock  in  such  manner  as  to  produce 
the  greatest  number  of  these  hght-colored  pullets.  Every  year 
in  which  the  lightest  colored  pullets  are  used  successfully  tends 
to  fix  a  lighter  shade  on  the  female  side.  The  light-colored 
cockerel  and  the  black  hen  draw  in  op})osite  directions.  Can  the 
Plymouth  Rocks  be  so  changed  by  breeding  as  to  approximate, 
and  finally  draw  together?  Perhaps  so  and  perhaps  not.  It  can 
only  be  accomplished,  if  at  all,  by  patience  and  effort  in  the  right 
direction.  It  never  will  be  done  by  persistently  using  a  light 
cock.    The  change  must  be  gradual." 

These  paragraphs  set  forth  clearly  the  work  that  the  Barred 
Plymouth  Rock  breeders  had  before  them  as  well  as  supplying 
a  description  of  the  tools  with  which  they  had  to  work.  Stod- 
dard gives  us  further  information  by  describing  the  three 
matings  which  he  considers  necessary  to  accomplish  the  objects 
of  the  Barred  Plymouth  Rock  breeders. 

"It  will  be  advisable  for  the  breeder  to  make  three  matings. 
In  the  first  place,  all  the  lightest  cockerels  and  all  the  darkest 
pullets  should  be  rejected  as  unfit  to  breed.  Then  much  atten- 
tion should  be  given  to  the  color  of  the  legs.  It  is  very  impor- 
tant that  a  breeding  cockerel  should  have  not  only  legs  yellow, 
but  very  yellow  legs.  The  pullets  at  first  cannot  be  found  in 
considerable  numbers  with  pure  yellow  legs,  but  after  culling 
out  all  that  show  glaring  imperfections  and  those  very  light 
or  very  dark,  take  of  the  remainder  those  pullets  that  are  the 
darkest  and  mate  them  with  one  of  the  lightest  cockerels  not  near 
akin.  This  mating  will  not  produce  exhibition  cockerels,  and 
the  majority  of  the  pullets  will  be  about  the  color  of  the  dam — ■ 
the  lightest  will  be  useful. 

"Then  take  those  pullets  a  few  shades  lighter  than  those  of 
the  first  mating  and  mate  them  with  a  medium-colored  cockerel. 
This  mating  will  produce  a  good  per  cent  of  standard  chicks 
more  especially  cockerels. 

"Lastly,  place  the  lightest-colored  pullets  with  a  dark-medium 
cockerel.  In  this  mating  the  sexes  are  nearly  of  one  color. 
Every  breeder  should  make  such  a  mating  as  this  every  year. 
We  have  conversed  with  many  breeders  who  have  made  this 
practice  without  getting  black  chicks,  but  just  so  sure  as  the 
thing  is  overdone  and  you  use  too  dark  a  cock  in  the  breeding 
pen  you  will  have  a  lot  of  pullets  as  black  as  crows,  with  green- 
black  legs.    The  whole  season's  produce  may  be  easily  ruined  in 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  169 

this  way.  The  matter  of  extreme  colors  should  be  discontinued 
entirely  as  soon  as  may  be.  and  the  breeder  should  have  in  view 
,the  bringing  about  of  a  uniformity  of  color  in  the  sexes." 

The  reader  will  understand  from  the  following  paragraphs 
that  Stoddard,  presumably  echoing  the  voice  of  the  Barred 
Plymouth  Rock  breeders,  advocates  a  special  mating  to  produce 
exhibition  colored  cockerels ;  and  a  special  mating  to  produce 
exhibition  pullets ;  yet  he  does  not  abandon  the  idea  of  producing 
Standard  colored  chicks  of  both  sexes  from  one  mating.  This, 
indeed,  seemed  to  have  been  the  idea  for  a  time.  Single  or  stand- 
ard matings  were  maintained  each  year  with  the  expectation  that 
by  persistently  mating  together  the  males  and  the  females  nearest 
to  standard  color,  that  were  produced  from  one  mating,  standard 
colored  specimens  of  both  sexes  could  be  produced  from  the 
same  mating.  For  their  immediate  requirements,  however, 
breeders  indulged  in  special  matings  for  the  sex.  This  general 
plan  was  pursued  for  a  number  of  years.  The  idea  of  producing 
the  best  or  nearest  to  standard  colored  specimens  from  one 
mating  was  not  given  up  generally  until  about  the  beginning  of 
this  century.  At  the  present  time  there  are  probab'y  those  who 
have  not  given  up  the  idea  that  this  feat  may  be  accomplished, 
but  in  face  of  the  almost  universal  use  of  and  quite  universal 
success  of  specimens  produced  by  the  double  mating  system  at 
poultry  exhibitions  all  over  the  land  they  are  surely  very  quiet 
about  their  practices. 

Other  forms  of  matings  were  advocated  which  from  the  de- 
scription given  we  may  without  hesitation  pronounce  special 
matings. 

In  Plymouth  Rocks  (Corbin,  1879).  we  find  five  systems  and 
from  their  nature,  it  surely  would  seem  as  though  standard  col- 
ored birds  would  result  from  some  of  them. 

"Five  different  matings  have  been  advocated  and  practiced 
as  follows : 

"No.   1 — A  male,  light  in  color,  mated  to  dark  females. 
"No.  2 — A  male,  dark  in  color,  mated  to  light  females. 
"No.  3 — A  male,  dark  in  color,  mated  to  dark  females. 
"No.  4 — Birds  matching  in  the  show-pens. 
"No.  5 — A  female  medium  in  color,  mated  with  a  male  about 
two  points  or  shades  lighter  in  color. 

"There  should  be  but  one  mating  necessary.  That  for  exhibi- 
tion should  be  precisely  the  same  as  that  for  breeding.       The 


170  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

trouble  and  annoyance  of  being  obliged  to  have  two  different 
styles  of  mating  is  obvious  to  any  one,  and  it  utterly  befogs 
amateurs. 

"There  is  no  necessity  for  this.  The  best  mating  for  breed- 
ing purposes  is  that  of  No.  5,  and  this  is  or  should  be  the  same 
as  No.  4.  Mating  No.  1  is  urged  by  many  as  the  proper  one ;  and 
where  a  beginner  has  no  really  suitable  birds,  and  does  not  feel 
able  to  pay  the  prices  demanded  for  the  finest  ones,  he  will  do 
very  well  with  fine  bred  stock  mated  in  this  way ;  that  is,  he 
will  obtain  a  certain  percentage  of  the  progeny  fitted  for  a  proper 
mating  the  next  season. 

"But  where  you  have  already  obtained  the  desired  medium 
by  careful  breeding,  it  is  worse  than  useless  to  again  return  to 
the  extremes  and  expect  more  favorable  results.  Mating  No.  2 
is  objectionable,  and  should  not  be  practiced,  except  as  a  neces- 
sity to  utilize  stock,  and  even  then  seldom  proves  satisfactory. 
Mating  No.  3  should  never  be  made  use  of ;  as  the  pullets  from 
such  a  mating  would  run  from  very  dark  to  black,  while  the 
cockerels  would  be  splashed  with  black  or  too  dark  either  for 
the  breeding  or  show-pen.  Possibly  a  few  cockerels  could  be 
obtained  fit  to  be  exhibited,  but  they  would  not  be  suitable  to 
use  as  breeders,  and  their  proportion  would  be  very  small. 

"It  is  impossible  also  to  obtain  by  this  mating  any  number 
of  chicks  having  the  required  yellow  legs  and  beaks.  They  will 
invariably  have  legs  either  dark  or  spotted.  This  is  a  disquali- 
fication in  exhibition  birds,  and,  of  course,  destroys  all  but  their 
economic  value. 

"If  birds  exactly  alike  could  always  be  bred  from,  or  if  the 
mingling  of  like  elements  always  produced  the  same  results, 
there  would  be  but  little  difficulty  in  breeding  exhibition  birds 
by  the  score;  but  such  is  not  the  fact." 

No.  1,  as  stated  by  the  author,  was  excusable  when  one  had 
no  better  birds  and  no  money  to  procure  them.  All  will  agree 
with  him.  Females  come  too  dark,  males  too  light ;  yet  mate 
the  culls  together.  One  method ;  yes,  the  poorest  that  can  be 
thought  of. 

No.  2  is  an  evidently  desperate  method  to  secure  Standard 
colored  specimens  of  both  sex. 

The  author  condemns,  in  toto,  number  three.  Yet,  by  this 
method  of  mating,  the  rich  and  beautiful  males  of  the  present 
day  are  produced  and  more  than  that,  it  was  by  this  method — 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STA^^DARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  171 


PLUMAGE    SHOWING    THREE    DEGREES    OF    QUALITY,     COLOR 
AND  BARRING  ON   WING  BOW  AND  WING-BAR  OR 
COVERTS  OF  BARRED  PLYMOUTH  ROCK 

PLATE  35 


10 


11 


12 


Upper  Row:  Male — Wing-Bow.  1 — Ordinary,  2 — Very  Good,  3- 
Idealized;  Wing-Bar  or  Wing-Coverts,  4 — Ordinary,  5 — Very  Good,  6- 
Idealized. 


Lower  Row:  Female  Wing-Bow.  7 — Ordinary,  8 — Very  Good,  9 — 
Idealized;  Wing-Bar  or  Wing-Coverts,  10 — Ordinary,  11 — Very  Good, 
12 — Idealized. 


172  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

practiced  without   interruption   for  years — that  they   have  been 
developed. 

Mating  number  five,  by  which  the  excellent  females  of  the 
present  day  have  been  produced  is  also  criticized  severely  with 
the  statement,  "This  is  or  should  be  the  same  as  number  four," 
a  Standard  mating  which  is  and  always  has  been  a  most  pro- 
nounced failure  from  the  beginning  in  producing  exhi1)ition 
birds  of  either  sex. 

One  fact  that  these  quotations  from  the  early  works  does 
bring  out  clearly  is  the  importance  placed  upon  breeding  Plym- 
outh Rocks  with  clear  yellow  legs.  Breeders  of  the  present  day 
are  fully  aware  of  the  fact  that  color  cannot  be  bred  entirely 
out  of  the  shanks  and  toes  and  still  bred  in  the  feather  in  all  its 
intensity  and  beauty. 

The  quotations  preceding  serve  one  good  purpose,  that  of 
giving  quite  an  adequate  conception  of  the  many  and  varied 
methods  and  systems  resorted  to  in  order  to  breed  males  and 
females  that  matched  in  color.  One  by  one  they  prove  them- 
selves worthless.  All  that  survive  are  number  three  and  number 
five,  according  to  Corbett.  and  these  are  exactly  what  we  are 
using  today,  known  as  the  double-mating  system,  one  mating  to 
produce  exhibition  males  and  one  to  produce  exhil^ition  females. 


CHAPTER   II. 

MATINGS    TO    PRODUCE    EXHIBITION    MALES 

Matings  for  this  purpose  are  popularly  called  cockerel 
matings  and  consist  of  cockerel-bred  males  and  females,  so- 
called.  A  cockerel-bred  male  is  an  exhibition  male,  or  at  least 
one  of  exhibition  or  standard  color.  (In  accepting  this  definition 
or  rule  the  reader  must  allow  two  exceptions  or  modifications  ; 
first,  that  the  term  standard  color  must  have  general  rather  than 
special  application — that  is,  some  range  of  shades  must  be 
allowed  ;  second,  males  bred  from  strictly  cockerel  matings  would 
be  classed  as  cockerel-bred.  In  some  cases  males  considerably 
lighter  and  in  other  cases  males  very  much  darker  than  Standard 
are  produced  from  matings  that  are  of  the  cockerel  line.) 

A  cockerel-bred  female  is  the  daughter  of  an  exhibition  or 
standard  colored  male. 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK 


173 


DEFECTS  IN  BARRING  OF  PLUMAGE 
PLATE  36 


10 


11 


Upper  Eow:  1 — Bars:  Weak  at  tip  and  sides;  crescent  shaped; 
light  quill.  2 — Very  irregular;  bars  join  at  quill;  bars  turn  backward 
at  sides  like  inverted  V  (  j\  ').  -i — Barring  coarse,  smirched  badly. 
4- — Two  sides  of  web  dissimilar,  barring  irregular  in  extreme;  light  bar 
joints  dark  bar  at  quill,  mis-matched  barring.  5 — Barring  extremely 
V  shaped.     6 — Barring  M  shaped  toward  sides. 

Lower  Row:  7 — Barring  too  coarse;  bars  too  few;  undercolor  lacks 
barring.  8 — Dark  bars  wider  at  sides  and  joined  at  edges  of  feather. 
9 — Quill  white  through  the  dark  bars;  light  and  dark  bars  run  together. 
10 — All  but  part  of  bars  near  tip  end,  black.  11 — White  on  most  all 
of  one  side  of  web.     (Much  worse  fauJt  than  black  in  barred  plumage.) 


174 


AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  175 


176  AMEJi'JCAX  I'OI  LTh'Y  A.^t^OVlATION 

The  Cockerel-Bred  Males. — These,  as  stated,  are  standard 
colored  and  are  sons  of  standard  colored  sires  and  their  dams  are 
daughters  of  standard  colored  males.  Males  from  these  matings 
vary  in  shade  of  color  somewhat.  Seme  will  come  too  light  to 
be  classed  as  standard  colored,  while  some  will  be  too  dark  to 
pass  standard  requirements.  The  former,  because  males  are 
inclined  to  breed  too  light,  are  wcn'th  little  or  nothing  as  breeders 
for  exhibition  males. 

Too  Light  Males. — They  are  too  light  generally  because  the 
dark  bars  are  not  dark  enough  or  wide  enough  to  create  the  in- 
tensity required  of  standard  colored  males,  or  because  the  light 
bars  are  too  wide  which  is,  however,  making  about  the  same 
statement  as  that  the  dark  bars  are  not  wide  enough. 

Too  Dark  Males. — The  over-strong  colored  male,  that  is, 
the  one  that  is  too  dark  for  a  first  class  exhibition  specimen,  is 
useful  as  a  breeder,  sometimes  extremely  useful.  The  male  may 
be  too  strongly  colored  because  of  one  or  mere  of  the  follow- 
ing faults.  The  dark  bar  may  be  too  wide  or  "heavy."  as  it  is 
called.  A  dark  bar  much  wider  than  the  light  bar  is  frequently 
seen  in  cockerel-bred  males  and  is  not  considered  a  serious  fault 
because  of  the  real  need  of  extra  color  in  breeding  males  of  the 
male  line.  A  breeder-exhibitor  must  bear  in  mind  that  this  is  the 
real  purpose  of  a  cockerel-bred  male  which  has  dark  bars  of 
this  description,  but  that  such  a  male  is  not  of  the  very  highest 
exhibition  quality.  The  dark  bar  may  be  too  intensely  dark,  in 
which  case  it  has  a  gloss  known  among  breeders  as  "sheen." 
Usually  this  is  a  lustre  of  greenish  shade.  This  is  not  desirable, 
though  when  only  faintly  visible  in  certain  sections,  counts  very 
little  against  the  specimen  possessing  it,  and  may  add  to  its 
breeding  value  with  females  of  certain  descriptions. 

The  light  bar  may  be,  and  very  likely  is,  too  narrow  as 
measured  by  Standard  requirements.  It  may  also  be  too  dark. 
By  that  is  meant — not  a  clear,  grayish  white.  Light  bars  may 
be  smoky,  that  is,  mixed  wdth  dark  pigment,  thus  creating  a 
slaty  shade.  It  may  have  a  brownish  tinge  which  gives  the 
specimen  a  rusty  color,  especially  noticeal)lc  if  the  dark  bar  also 
has  a  brownish  tinge. 

Every  cockerel-bred  male  that  is  to  l)e  mated  or  that  is  being 
considered  for  a  breeder  should  be  examined  to  determine  how 
he  deviates  from  standard  color  and  how  much  ;  that  is,  in  which 
direction — is  he  too  light  or  is  he  too  dark — what  makes  him 
so?     The  correct  answer  is  comparatively  easy  to  find  if  you  are 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  177 

observing  and  patiently  studious.  When  the  cause  of  deviation 
from  standard  color  is  determined,  it  must  be  kept  in  mind 
during  the  mating  process,  for  females  that  have  faults  of  the 
same  character  should  not  be  selected  as  mates. 

The  Cockerel-Bred  Females. — These  are,  if  true  to  name, 
daughters  of  exhibition-colored  males.  They  differ  from  exhi- 
bition-colored females  only  in  color;  they  are  darker — often  very 
much  darker.  Upon  analysis,  the  dark  bar  is  found  to  be  much 
more  intensely  dark.  Greenish  lustre  appears  occasionally,  which 
is  usually  referred  to  as  "sheen."  This  is  an  objectionable  fea- 
ture in  exhibition  females,  but  not  necessarily  so  in  cockerel-bred 
females  ;  for  many  males,  females  that  possess  a  dark  bar  of  that 
character  are  necessary  in  order  to  breed  high  class  males. 

The  dark  bar  is  usually  much  wider  than  the  light  bar, 
usually  twice  as  wide  and  sometimes  as  much  as  three  times  as 
wide.  This  feature  differs  from  the  reciuirements  for  exhibition 
females  in  this  particular,  but  inasmuch  as  the  light  bar  of  the 
males  has  a  tendency  to  be  too  wide,  this  quality  is  desired  in 
cockerel-breeding  females.  The  dark  bar  should  be  strong  and 
there  should  be  a  sharp  definition  between  the  dark  and  the  light 
bars.  This  line  of  definition  will  not  be  as  sharp  as  in  the  plum- 
age of  exhibition-colored  females  because  the  contrast  in  color 
between  the  two  bars  is  not  as  sharp. 

The  light  bar,  as  it  appears  in  plumage  of  the  cockerel-bred 
female,  is  not  as  wide,  being,  as  the  reader  will  conclude  from 
the  foregoing,  only  one-half  or  one-third  as  wide.  Furthermore, 
the  light  bar  is  not  as  clear  as  in  the  plumage  of  the  exhibition 
female  and  it  is  not  desired  that  it  be  so,  for  the  reason  stated 
repeatedly  that  males  are  prone  to  come  too  light.  Some  cock- 
erel-bred females  do  show  a  very  clean-cut  barring,  the  light 
bar  while  narrow,  is  bright  and  clean  and  the  dark  bar,  while 
wide  and  strong  in  color,  has  well  defined  edges  and  is  free  from 
greenish  sheen  and  brownish  shades.  Such  females  are  very 
pretty  and  are  of  the  sort  that  are  usuaHy  exhibited  when  classes 
are  provided  for  them.  As  breeders,  they  are  not  always  a  success. 
That  depends  upon  how  they  are  mat-ed.  If  mated  to  males 
that  are  very  strong  in  surface  color  as  well  as  in  underbarring, 
good  results  should  be  expected  and  often  will  be  realized.  They 
would  be  particularly  well  mated  to  males  whose  plumage 
showed  rusty  or  brownish  tinges   or  salty   light   bars.     If  we 


A.MERTCAX  POULTRY  Af<SOCIATIOX 


SICKLE    AND   LARGER    TAIL    COVERTS,   BARRED 
PLYMOUTH  ROCK  MALE 


PLATE 


Sickle — Vcrv  Good 


Three   Larger   Tail  Coverts — Very   Good 


PLYMOTTII  ROCK  ,^TAXDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  179 


SICKLE    AND   LAEGER    TAIL    COVERTS,   BARRED 
PLYMOUTH  ROCK  MALE 

PLATE  40 


Sickle — Idealized 
Three  Larger  Tail  Coverts — Ideal   (natural) 


180 


AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 


BREEDING  FOR  EXHIBITION  COLOR  IN  MALES 

PLATE  41 
12  8  4  5  6  7 


9 


10 


11 


12 


Specimen  feathers  from  1 — Head.  2 — Neck.  3 — Back.  4 — Saddle. 
5 — Breast.  6 — Wing-bow.  7 — Wing-bar.  8 — Wing  primary.  9 — Wing 
secondary.  10 — Tail  proper.  11 — Tail  covert.  12,  13 — Rear  body,  often 
called  fluff,  showing  color  of  male  used  to  produce  high  quality  exhibi- 
tion Barred  Plymouth  Rock  Males. 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK 


181 


BEEEDING  MALES  OF  EXHIBITION  COLOR 

PLATE  42 

12  3  4  5  6  7 


8  !)  10  n  12  13 

Specimen  feathers  from  1 — Head.  2^Xeck.  3 — Back,  between 
shoulders.  4 — Cushions.  5 — Breast.  6 — Wing-bow.  7 — Wing-covert. 
8 — Primary.  9 — Secondary.  10 — Main  tail.  11 — Smaller  tail-covert. 
12,  13 — Two  from  rear  body,  often  called  fluff,  showing  high  color  mark- 
ings of  female  used  to  produce  high  quality  exhibition  Barred  Plymouth 
Rock  males. 


182  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

want  to  breed  males  that  are  rich  colored  or  deep  blue  in  general 
appearance,  it  is  not  desirable  that  the  birds  of  both  sexes  should 
have  absolutely  clear,  light  bars  in  their  plumage,  but  it  is  advis- 
able that  it  should  be  present  in  one  side  of  the  mating. 

Selecting  the  Male. — Standard  colored  males  are  placed  at 
the  head  of  all  niatings  intended  to  produce  exhibition  males. 
The  nearer  they  are  to  perfection  in  form,  color  and  markings, 
the  more  valuable  they  are  as  sires  of  exhibition  males.  This 
statement  holds  with  the  single  exception  of  shade  of  color.  In 
that  particular,  a  male  that  has  a  slight  tendency  towards  an 
overly  strong  shade,  is,  in  other  words,  inclined  to  be  too  dark 
or  has  an  overly  strong,  dark  bar,  should  be  given  the  preference 
for  females  whose  dark  bar  shows  little  or  no  sheen.  A  male 
of  the  same  description  should  be  selected  fcr  females  that  have 
the  clean,  light  bar.  As  a  mate  for  females  with  plumage  of  this 
description,  males  that  have  rich  blue  appearance,  together  with 
the  strong,  dark  bar,  should  be  selected. 

Close  attention  to  the  type  of  barring  is  necessary.  Those 
males  that  have  the  straight-across-the-feather  bar  with  little 
tendency  to  show  the  V-shaped  bar  comply  with  standard  re- 
quirements and  are  very  valuable  assets  in  any  l^reeder's  yards. 
The  breeding  of  this  type  of  barring  in  male  plumage  is  one  of 
the  ambitions  of  the  Barred  Rock  breeders  that  is  not  fullv  real- 
ized as  yet. 

The  Undercolor. — The  underbarring  is  a  feature  that  must 
be  made  a  matter  of  moment.  The  strength  of  this  feature  is  an 
indication  of  the  breeding  strength  of  the  male.  Underbarring 
should  be  strong  in  all  sections.  Do  not  fail  to  examine  critically 
these  sections  for  this  characteristic :  Neck,  back  its  entire 
length,  wing  bows,  and  insist  that  the  bars  extend  to  the  skin. 
This  should  be  true  also  of  the  breast  and  as  nearly  true  of  the 
long,  rear  body  feathers  as  possible.  The  straighter  and  clearer 
these  underbars  of  a  male  are,  the  better  he  is,  both  as  an  exhihi- 
tion  specimen  and  as  a  breeder. 

The  Surface  Color. — Evenness  of  surface  color  is  one  of  the 
first  essentials  of  good  exhi]:)ition  male  and  it  is  just  as  essen- 
tial in  a  breeding  male. 

For  females  that  are  otherwise  very  good  but  are  too  light 
in  the  neck,  males  that  are  very  strong  in  barring  of  this  sec- 
tion and  even  in  color  of  all  sections  are  very  desirable.  For 
females  that  are  extremely  dark,  that  is,  dark  to  a  point  where 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  NTAyOARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  188 

they  appear  "crocky,"  males  that  are  even  in  all  sections,  clear 
in  the  light  bar  and  free  from  rusty  or  brownish  dark  bars,  are 
necessary  for  good  results.  If  the  breeder  can  go  one  step  fur- 
ther and  insist  upon  sharply  defined  as  well  as  clear  bars  when 
selecting  the  male,  he  will  be  sti  1  more  fortunate.  When  mating 
females  of  the  above  description,  the  back  and  shoulders  of  the 
male  are  the  scclicns  to  examine  especially  closely. 

Selecting  the  Females. — The  first  thing  to  consider  in  select- 
ing the  females  to  produce  exhil^ition  males  is  their  ancestry. 
They  should  be  daughters  of  high  class  exhibition  males  and.  if 
l)Ossible,  the  sisters  of  high  class  exhibition  males.  Two  facts 
besides  their  individuality,  which  are  highly  indicative  of  their 
cuality  as  producers  of  desirable  males  are:  First,  the  length  of 
the  line  from  which  they  come  or  the  number  of  generations  of 
high  class,  exhibition  males  which  precede  them  in  their  ancestry 
and,  second,  the  ([uality  of  these  male  ancestors.  The  value  as 
a  producer  of  any  cockerel-bred  female  will  depend  upon  the 
number  of  generations  and  the  quality  of  high  class  male  ances- 
tors. The  value  of  a  female  will  be  indicated  most  clearly  by 
her  individuality  ;  that  is,  to  a  breeder  with  experience  in  pro- 
du'ing  high  class  males,  and  by  the  quality  of  her  own  brothers.. 
The  merits  and  defects  of  these  own  l)rothers.  particularly 
those  of  her  own  age.  furnish  strong  clues  as  to  how  to  mate 
a  cockerel-bred  female.  Furthermore,  as  it  is  a  recognized  fact 
that,  though  several  cockerel-bred  females  may  be  full  sisters. 
they  are  not  identical,  the  question  comes  up  as  to  which  to 
select.  Referring  to  the  above  descrii)tion.  it  is  not  essential  that 
cockerel-bred  females  should  hnvQ  clear,  yellow  shanks  and  toes, 
as  the  shanks  and  toes  of  the  males  are  usually  yellow  even  when 
those  of  their  dams  and  sisters  show  considerable  dark  color. 
The  same  is  true  ■?s  to  color  of  beaks  of  cockerel-bred  males  and 
females. 

The  Wing  Section. — The  flights  of  the  cockerel-bred  females 
need  not  be  as  clearly  marked  as  those  of  an  exhibition  female, 
because  from  females  with  flights  that  show  but  suggestions  of 
markings,  that  is,  that  are  but  indistinctly  marked,  come  males 
with  splendidly  marked  flights. 

The  secondaries  of  cockerel-bred  males  should  not  only  be 
distinctly  barred,  but  the  bars  in  each  feather  should  be  so  placed 
that  when  the  wing  is  folded,  they  will  form  distinct  lines  across 
the  wing-bay.     This  is  a  very  pretty  feature  of  a  Barred  Plym- 


184 


AMERICAN  POULTRY  A^SOCIATIOX 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  185 

outh  Rock  wing  and,  as  a  rule,  there  is  no  difficulty  in  breeding 
it  to  an  approximate  state  of  perfection. 

The  markings  of  the  shoulders,  wing-fronts  and  wing-bows 
partake  of  the  nature  of  those  of  the  back,  breast  and  rear  body. 

The  Undercolor. — The  underbarring  of  the  cockerel-bred 
female  should  be  very  strong,  clear  and  distinct.  The  light  bar, 
of  course,  will  not  be  as  clear  as  that  of  the  exhibition  colored 
female,  but  the  dark  bar  is  so  much  stronger  that  we  obtain 
very  distinct  underbarring  in  the  best  selected  cockerel-bred 
females.  This,  of  course,  is  very  desirable  because  of  the  neces- 
sity for  underbarring  in  our  exhibition  males,  which  it  is  im- 
possible to  secure  without  strong  underbarring  on  both  sides  of 
the  mating. 

The  alternate  bars  of  light  and  dark  should  color  the  shaft 
as  well  as  the  fluff  of  the  feather.  \'ery  often  the  dark  bars 
particularly  stop  at  the  quill.  This  is  an  indication  of  weak  and 
irregular  barring.  The  males  bred  from  such  females  will  not 
show  the  strength  and  regularity  in  barring  that  exhibitors 
desire. 

The  Tail. — The  larger  the  feathers,  the  coarser  is  the  barring. 
Constant  observation  teaches  us  that  this  feature  of  barred  p'um- 
age  is  natural.  Bars  that  are  comparatively  narrow,  straight, 
clean  and  sharply  defined  are  desired  just  as  much  in  this  as  in 
any  section.  A  slight  amount  of  greenish  sheen  is  not  objection- 
able in  either  sex.  because  this  section  is  fully  as  much  inclined 
to  weakness  in  color  as  any  section  of  the  male  plumage. 


CHAPTER  III. 

MATINGS    TO    PRODUCE    EXHIBITION    FEMALES 

Matings  for  this  purpose  are  popularly  called  puHet-matings 
and  consist  of  pullet-bred  males  and  females,  so-called.  A  pullet- 
bred  male  is  a  son  of  an  exhibition  female,  or  at  least,  one  of 
exhibition  or  standard  color.  (In  accepting  this  definition  or 
rule,  the  reader  must  allow  two  exceptions  or  modifications : 
first,  that  the  term  "standard  color"  must  have  general  rather 
than  special  application — that  is,  some  'range  of  shades  must  be 
allowed  ;  second,  males  bred  from  strictly  pullet-matings  would 
be  classed  as  pullet-bred.  In  all  cases,  males  considerably  lighter 
than  Standard  are  produced  from  matings  that  are  of  the  pullet- 
line.) 


180 


AMERICAN  POULTRY  A>S>S0aiAT10\ 


PLYMOrrH  ROCK  STAXDARD  AXD  BREED  BOOK 


181 


BREEDING  FOR  FEMALES  OF  EXHIBITION   COLOR 
PLATE  45 


8 


1(1 


11 


Specimen  feathers  from  1 — Head.  2 — Neck,  o— Back.  4 — Saddle. 
.' — Breast.  6 — Wing-bow.  7 — Wing-coverts.  8 — Primary.  9 — Second- 
ary. 10 — Main  tail.  11 — Lower  breast.  12,  13 — Rear  body,  often  called 
fluff,  showing  color  markings  of  male  used  to  produce  high  quality  ex- 
hibition Barred  Plymouth  Rock  females. 


188  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

A  pullet-bred  male  is  the  son  of  an  exhibition  or  standard 
colored  female. 

The  Pullet-Bred  Males. — These  are  lighter  than  standard 
colored  males  and  are  sons  of  standard  colored  females. 

Sons  of  good  exhibition  females  are  the  diametric  opposites 
of  daughters  of  exhibition  males.  The  sons  are  invariably  much 
lighter  in  surface  color  than  exhibition  males ;  the  light  bars 
are  broader  than  the  dark  (Plate  45),  giving  the  bird  a  much 
more  cpenly  barred  appearance  than  the  exhibition  male  pre- 
sents. 

The  legs  and  beak  are  usually  a  much  deeper  and  clearer 
yellow.  The  underbarring  is  not  as  strong  and  does  not  often 
extend  ta  the  end  of  the  feathers  nearest  the  skin. 

The  aim  of  the  breeders  with  the  most  advanced  ideas  is, 
however,  to  produce  exhibition  females  with  light  and  dark  bars 
of  even  width,  but  both  quite  narrow  (Plate  45).  In  doing  so, 
the  sons  of  such  females  have  quite  naturally  become  more  nar- 
rowly, barred  as  their  dams  improved  in  Standard  requirements 
or  met'  these  advanced  ideas.  The  result  is  that  we  have  today 
much  mere  presentable  males  in  our  female  lines  than  were 
found  some  years  ago,  though  they  do  not  yet  reach  the  ideals 
required  of  an  exliil^ition  male. 

Selecting  a  Male  to  Produce  Exhibition  Females. — If  capable 
of  producing  females  which  breeders,  exhibitors  and  judges 
desire  at  the  present  time,  an  ideal  male  for  pullet  matings  must 
possess  barring  of  nearly  equal  wddth,  evenly  spaced  over  a 
large  portion  of  the  feather,  be  evenly  colored  on  the  surface  anl 
not  weak  in  neck  or  breast,  as  they  are  likely  to  be.  They  should 
have  well-marked  secondaries,  as  these  show  beautifully  on  the 
females  if  the  barring  on  each  feather  is  properly  placed,  so 
that  they  overlap  and  run  parallel  to  one  another. 

A  good  wing-bay  will  often  show  these  clear,  distinct  bars. 
The  flights  of  the  male  should  also  be  distinctly  marked,  with 
the  black  markings  predominating,  but  the  white  should  be 
quite  clear  and  the  black  very  strong,  stopping  short  of  a  lustre, 
however. 

Males  whose  dams  are  nearly  ideal  exhibition  specimens, 
when  mated  to  splendid  exhibition  females,  seldom  fail  to  pro- 
duce a  fair  proportion  of  exhibition  females.  Some  are,  how- 
ever, much  better  producers  than  others.  There  is  a  tendency 
for  the  light  bars  to  become  cloudy  or  indistinct  and  the  finer 
the  bars  become,   the   greater  this  tendency.     To   obviate  this 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STA^WARD  AND  BREED  BOOK 

BREEDING  FEMALES  OF  EXHIBITION  COLOR 

PLATE  46 

12  3  4  5  6  7 


illsMB 

,*-*«*-"(  i**" 

;—•:-'  ^^ 

1 

f| 

M 

"^^ 

■  m 

H 

■■1 

'/    '                                   ^ 

1 

"^-..^ 

^   1 

"'^t' 

■  i^Hi'  ^ 

PS 

r 

«sr 

*  JS9lil"^#       ■'-'-%«,       -r"^ 

r 

^r 

'  ^  :•■  1 

^m 

i 

r^  1    ' 

10 


11 


12 


13 


Specimen  feathers  from  1 — Head.  2 — Neck.  3 — Back  near  should- 
ers. 4 — Back  at  cushion.  5 — Breast.  6 — Wing-bow.  7 — Wing-covert. 
8 — Primary.  9 — Secondary.  10 — Main  tail.  11 — Smaller  tail-covert.  12, 
13 — Rear-body,  often  called  Huff,  showing  color  markings  of  female  used 
to  produce  high  quality  exhibition  Barred  Plymouth  Rock  females. 


190 


AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASf^OCIATION 


PLATE  4^ 


Illustrating  the  progress  of  Barred  Plymouth  Rock  females  during 
the  past  twenty  years.  Four  prominent  winning  females,  separated  by 
periods  of  about  five  years. 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STAA'DARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  191 


PLATE  48 


Illustrating  the  progress  of  Barred  Plymouth  Eock  males  during 
the  past  twenty  years,  four  prominent  winning  males,  separated  by 
periods  of  about  five  years  beginning  with  1898  Boston  winner. 


1!)1'  A.yER/CAy  POVLTRY  AHHOCIATJOX 

trouble,  be  sure  that  the  light  bars  of  particularly  finely  barred 
males  are  extremely  clear. 

Females  to- Produce  Exhibition  Females. — The  ideal  females 
for  the  productioii-  of-  exhibition  females  are  ideal  exhibition 
females  ;  but  in  practice  the  uncertainties  in  breeding  are  such 
that  this  does  not  always  work  out.  Females  that  are  not  them- 
selves the  very  best  of  exhibition  specimens  are  often  the  dams 
of  very  high  class,  winning  specimens.  Such  dams,  however, 
possess  many  of  the  attributes  of  winning  specimens  and,  as  a 
rule,  require  only  a  little  alteration  to  become  very  attractive 
fowls.  As  an  instance,  females  whose  plumage  may  be  a  little 
coarse  in  barring,  lack  an  underbar  or  so,  whose  feathers  are 
improperly  tipped,  need  but  to  be  properly  mated  to  produce 
progeny  the  equal  of  any.  A  finely  barred  male  that  is,  at  the 
same  time,  the  son  of  an  excellent  female,  is  probably  all  that  is 
required  for  the  coarsely  barred  female  with  the  desired  con- 
trast in  colors,  the  well-defined  bara,  the  strength  of  underbar- 
ring,  the  wing  markings  described  in  the  Standard,  to  produce 
exhibition  females  of  high  quality.  A  female  with  too  strong 
a  dark  bar  can  be  easily  mated  to  correct  that  fault,  and  if  she 
is  highly  meritorious  otherwise,  her  progeny  should  equal  the 
best.  So  we  might  give  instance  after  instance,  but  after  all  it 
is  but  a  matter  of  breeding  generation  after  generation  from  first 
class  birds,  and  of  corrective  matings,  as  both  these  principles 
must  be  applied  and  with  the  skill  born  of  good  judgment  and 
constant  and  careful  discriminating  observation. 


SECTION     III. 

CHAPTER  I. 

WHITE  PLYMOUTH  ROCKS 

THE    ORIGIN    AND    EARLY    DEVELOPMENT 

FROM  the  first,  White  Plymouth  Rocks  came  as  white  chicks 
from  Barred  Plymouth  Rock  parents.    This  departure  from 
the  general  appearance,  expected  according  to  the  laws  of 
heredity,  has  been  variously  explained. 

THEORETICAL    EXPLANATIONS 

Atavism. — One  claim  is  that  it  is  due  to  a  phenomenon  known 
as  "atavism."  This  phenomenon  consists  in  the  recurrence  in  a 
descendant  of  characters  that  were  possessed  by  a  remote  ances- 
tor, instead  of  characters  found  in  an  immediate  or  near  ancestor. 
The  word  is  derived  from  the  Latin  atavus.  which  originally 
meant  the  father  of  a  great-great-grandfather,  but  which  was 
later  applied  to  any  remote  ancestor.  This  tendency  of  ancestral 
characters  to  reappear  in  offspring,  either  immediately  or  after 
laying  dormant  for  several  generations,  is  due  to  a  mysterious 
vital  principle  known  as  heredity.  If  the  qualities  appear  after 
a  long  dormancy,  the  heredity  is  atavistic.  Atavism  implies  that 
the  recurring  characteristics  were  actually  found  in  a  remote 
ancestor  or  in  several  of  them ;  otherwise,  their  appearance 
would  not  be  a  manifestation  of  heredity,  but  of  an  effort  with- 
out a  cause — an  "absolute  commencement." 

Possible  Influence  of  Black  Fowls. — However,  in  the  at- 
tempts to  account  for  white  chicks  from  Barred  Plymouth 
Rocks,  other  theories  have  been  propounded.  It  was  even  sug- 
gested that  they  resulted  from  the  influence  of  Black  Java  or 
Black  Cochin  whichever  may  have  been  ancestors.  This  theory, 
however,  is  in  contravention  of  the  well  known  laws  of  heredity  ; 
unless,  indeed,  it  is  a  case  of  atavism  from  a  white  ancestor  far 
back  along  the  line  of  descent  of  the  Black  Javas  or  Cochins. 

The  Influence  of  White  Fowls. — Another  explanation  is  that 
white  fowls  known  as  Birminghams  were  the  determining  factor, 

193 


194  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

Upon  the  supposition  that  they  had  been  bred  into  one  strain,  at 
least,  of  Barred  Plymouth  Rocks. 

Edward  Brown's  Explanation. — Still  another  and  quite  rea- 
sonable explanation  is  that  offered  by  Edward  Brown  in  "Races 
of  Domestic  Poultry,"  page  153,  as  follows: 

"This  breed  is  a  sport  from  the  Barred  variety.  It  is  easily 
seen  that  a  failure  of  pigments,  so  far  as  the  black  marks  are 
concerned,  would  yield  white  plumaged  fowls,  and  wherever  we 
have  the  mixed  markings,  which  is  sometimes  known  by  the 
term  "cuckoo"  there  will  occasionally  be  specimens  which  either 
show  pure  white  on  the  one  hand,  or  are  entirely  black.  It  is  in 
this  way  that  many  of  the  varieties  have  been  secured,  and  the 
tendency  to  variation  is  very  great  in  every  kind  of  poultry." 

D.  A.  Upham's  Statement. — The  following  facts  would  sub- 
stantiate Mr.  Brown's  explanation.  As  first  bred,  Plymouth 
Rocks  came  with  the  males  very  light  and  females  very  dark  in 
color.  We  have  Mr.  Upham's  statement  that  most  of  the  pullets 
of  the  Spaulding  cross  were  black  and  all  the  cockerels  grey, 
but  that  he  succeeded  in  finding  a  certain  number  of  grey  pullets 
to  go  with  a  grey  cockerel  he  selected. 

Rev.  D.  D.  Bishop  in  his  book,  "The  Development  of  the 
Plymouth  Rock,"  calls  attention  to  the  light  males  and  darker 
females  as  "the  law  of  Dominique  color"  and  makes  this  state- 
ment : 

"The  most  important  and  striking  characteristic  that  pre- 
sents itself  to  a  student  of  Plymouth  Rocks  is  the  peculiar  dif- 
ference in  the  color  effect  in  the  two  sexes.  First,  last  and 
always  the  males  come  lighter  than  the  females.  It  is  a  thing 
we  must  never  forget  in  dealing  with  this  breed.  It  will  beat 
us  if  we  do  but  we  shall  never  beat  that.  It  is  in  the  birds,  it  is 
the  law  of  this  color  that  the  males  will  not  only  be  several 
shades  lighter  in  color,  but  the  width  of  the  bars  will  be  about 
one-third  of  the  light  spaces  between  them.  It  is  a  very  light 
pullet  that  has  the  space  between  the  bars  equal  in  width  to  the 
bars  themselves,  and  from  that  the  spaces  grow  less  all  the  way 
down  to  no  space  at  all,  or  solid  color." 

The  Editor's  Experience  and  Observations. — Moreover,  the 
fact  that  males  from  the  same  matings,  even  though  the  matings 
be  restricted  to  pairs,  are  of  much  lighter  shades  than  the  females 
is  known  to  all  those  who  are  in  the  least  familiar  with  the  char- 
acteristics of  Barred  Plymouth  Rocks.  This  difference  was,  in 
the  recollection  of  the  writer,  much  greater  in  years  past  than 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  195 

at  the  present  time.  It  is,  then,  reasonable  to  suppose  that  in 
their  endeavor  to  get  the  females  lighter,  which  endeavor  nat- 
urally followed  where  too  dark  females  were  in  the  majority  and 
even  black  ones  sometimes  appeared,  lighter  and  lighter  matings 
were  used.  In  fact,  within  the  Editor's  recollection,  males  nearly 
white  in  color  were  used  by  breeders  in  their  efiforts  to  produce 
exhibition  pullets  of  the  desired  shade.  The  result  was  what 
might  have  been  expected,  a  few  white  chicks. 

As  an  instance  of  such  an  occurrence,  a  certain  mating  of 
Barred  Plymouth  Rocks  made  by  the  Editor  in  1895  produced 
five  white  chicks,  four  cockerels  and  one  pullet.  During  the  sea- 
son, following  the  advice  of  a  prominent  breeder,  the  male 
had  been  changed.  No  white  chicks  were  produced  by  the  first 
male,  a  much  darker  one ,  than  the  second,  which  was  very 
coarsely  barred  and  \ery  light  colored.  The  year  previous,  the 
writer  saw  three  white  sports  in  the  yards  of  Mr.  D.  J.  Lambet, 
of  Rhode  Island,  well  known  as  a  breeder  of  Barred  Plymouth 
Rocks  exclusively.  The  same  year  another  prominent  breeder 
won  first,  fourth  and  fifth  on  White  Plymouth  Rock  cockerels 
which  he  said  were  sports  from  his  Barred  Plymouth  Rock  pullet 
matings.  The  Editor  assisted  him  in  showing  these  birds,  and 
that  they  were  found  in  the  same  flock  or  pen  as  the  pullet  breed- 
ing Barred  Plymouth  Rock  males,  he  can  attest.  Furthermore, 
these  sports  were  of  the  same  strain  as  the  five  bred  by  the 
Editor.  That  white  sports  did  occur  from  the  lighter  or  pullet 
matings  was  well  understood  by  the  breeders  of  Barred  and 
White  varieties  of  that  period.  This  much  can  be  noted — all 
species  or  nearly  all  have  produced  an  albino,  some  frequently, 
others  very  rarely.  An  albino  from  Barred  Plymouth  Rocks  is, 
for  that  reason  alone,  not  to  be  considered  an  improbability,  even 
though  a  white  ancestry  is  not  proved. 


FACTS    ABOUT    THE    ORIGIN 

The  Originator. — The  credit  for  having  originated  the  White 
Plymouth  Rocks  has  been  accorded  to  Mr.  Oscar  F.  Frost  of 
Monmouth,  Maine.  This  has  been,  perhaps,  because  he  was  the 
first  to  proclaim  their  appearance.  Directly  following  his  ad- 
mission of  their  existence,  other  breeders  began  to  report  their 
presence  in  their  flocks.  One  breeder  in  Indianapolis  wrote  to 
me  prior ^to  1876,  telling  of  the  hatching  of  white  chicks  from 
Barred  Plymouth  Rocks.     I  went  to  see  them  and  induced  him, 


JH.  C.  Stale  Uuzge 

196  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

quite  against  his  will,  to  mature  and  mate  the  white  chicks.  The 
greater  part  of  all  the  white  chicks  obtained  from  the  Barred 
Plymouth  Rocks  came  from  the  Essex  or  Drake  strains,  orig- 
inated through  the  union  of  several  kinds  of  fowls. 

An  Early  Account. — From  "Barred  and  White  Plymouth 
Rocks,"  by  Joseph  Wallace,  1888,  we  obtain  in  substance  the 
following  account  of  the  foregoing  occurrence.  Mr.  Frost  re- 
ceived a  pair  of  these  W'hite  Plymouth  Rocks  (sports  of  Barred 
Plymouth  Rocks)  of  a  neighbor  who  was  breeding  the  Essex 
strain  of  Barred  Plymouth  Rocks.  These  he  bred  the  first  year 
and  according  to  several  accounts  he  had  a  poor  looking  lot  for 
some  years,  but  finally  succeeded  in  producing  very  fine  flocks 
of  fowls.  According  to  some  authorities  quoted  in  that  work, 
1878  is  the  date  that  Mr.  Frost  started  to  breed  them,  though 
it  is  generally  thought  that  white  sports  from  Barred  Plymouth 
Rocks  had  not  been  an  infrequent  occurrence.  The  same  author 
pays  this  nice  tribute  to  the  new  variety : 

"The  mind  cannot  conceive  of  a  more  handsome  and  appro- 
priate companion  for  the  Barred  Plymouth  Rock  than  the  White 
Rock.  Often  in  our  boyhood  days,  while  reading  the  stories  of 
Sinbad,  the  Sailor,  in  the  'Arabian  Nights'  Entertainments,'  we 
pictured  to  ourselves  the  size,  strength  and  power  of  flight  of 
that  formidable  and  fortuitous  bird,  the  White  Roc,  that  was 
capable  of  lifting  elephants  from  the  plains,  that  rescued  so 
many  travelers,  heroes,  cast-aways  and  adventurers  from  the 
jaws  of  death,  and  carried  them  in  its  huge  talons  over  seas  and 
mountains  to  other  lands,  where  pleasure,  wealth  and  beauty 
awaited  them.  Little  did  we  think  then  that  the  day  would  come 
in  our  time  when  the  great  White  Rock  of  the  western  world 
would  carry  off  thousands  at  a  time,  not  in  its  talons,  but  in 
admiration  of  its  grandeur,  beauty  and  usefulness." 

Clamor  for  Recognition. — Directly  following  the  public  an- 
nouncement of  the  presence  of  these  fowls,  there  was  a  persistent 
clamor  for  recognition  as  the  originators  of  them,  and  for  the 
right  to  name  them.  This  claim  was  conceded  to  the  person  who 
could  prove  that  he  was  the  first  to  see  and  breed  them.  They 
were  variously  named  White  Plymouth  Rocks,  Puritans,  Dirigos, 
and  other  names  for  the  less  important  strains.  The  real  strife 
for  supremacy  came  when  admission  to  the  Standard  of  Perfec- 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STAXDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  197 

tion  was  sought  for  them.  Then  began  their  official  existence, 
as  told  in  the  records  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Indianapolis 
meeting  of  the  American  Poultry  Association,  January,  1888. 


RECOGNITION    BY    THE    AMERICAN    POULTRY 
ASSOCIATION 

The  Committee  on  New  Breeds  reported  to  the  convention 
Wednesday  morning,  January  25,  1888,  that  they  would  recom- 
mend the  admission  of  the  White  Wyandottes.  White  Plymouth 
Rocks.  White  Alinorcas,  White  Javas  and  Dirigos.  As  to  the 
fundamental  difference  between  White  Plymouth  Rocks  and 
Dirigos,  George  P.  Coffin,  of  Freeport,  Maine,  writes  as  follows : 

"Replying  to  your  letter  of  May  the  28th,  would  say  the  first 
White  Plymouth  Rocks  that  I  knew  of  were  those  bred  by  Mr. 
Oscar  F.  Frost,  Monmouth.  Kennebec  County,   Maine,   who  is 


PLATE  49 

ONE     OF     THE     EARLIEST     ILLUSTRATIONS     OF     WHITE 
PLYMOUTH  ROCKS 


198  AM  ERIC  A^^  POULTRY  ASl^OCIATION 

generally  considered  the  originator  of  the  breed.  As  early  as 
1880  these  were  called  White  Plymouth  Rocks,  as  I  remember 
of  my  father  having  some  of  them  when  I  was  a  small  boy. 
While  I  am  not  positive  about  the  matter,  I  incline  to  the  belief 
that  the  Dirigo  was  the  same  strain  of  birds.  The  name,  Dirgio, 
which  is  the  motto  on  the  State  seal  of  Maine,  would  indicate 
the  breed  to  be  of  Maine  origin.  At  that  time  the  idea  of  sports 
had  not  come  to  be  understood  and  there  were  many  of  the 
breeders  who  doubted  the  sport  origin  of  the  breed.  At  the 
same  time,  as  often  occurs  when  a  new  breed  is  in  the  making, 
others  besides  the  originator  attempted  by  cross-breeding  or  in 
other  ways  to  produce  birds  with  similar  characteristics,  yet 
with  different  or  partially  different  blood  lines,  and  then,  as 
sometimes  happens,  if  these  birds  are  bred  with  the  originator's 
stock,  it  makes  it  much  more  difficult  to  trace  the  breed  history." 

Other  breeds  and  varieties  were  included  in  that  report,  a 
little  of  which  should  be  mentioned  here.  The  presentation  of 
five  new  varieties  of  white  fowls  for  admission  to  the  Standard 
was  a  matter  of  vital  importance,  and  there  was  considerable 
opposition  to  the  admission  of  the  White  Plymouth  Rocks,  the 
Dirigos,  and  the  White  Javas.  This  was  because  it  was  plain 
that  there  could  not  be  so  many  kinds,  all  true  to  breed  charac- 
teristics. Ultimately,  White  Wyandottes,  Golden  Wyandottes, 
White  Plymouth  Rocks,  Jersey  Blues,  White  and  Black  Minor- 
cas  and  Pea-comb  Plymouth  Rocks  were,  all  of  them,  admitted 
to  the  Standard  under  one  resolution. 

Later,  a  resolution  was  offered  asking  for  the  admission  of 
the  Dirigos  to  the  Standard,  although  they  were  the  same  as  the 
White  Plymouth  Rocks.  A  memorial  was  presented  to  the  meet- 
ing demanding  their  admission,  and  great  claims  were  made  for 
their  qualities.  An  argument  developed  the  fact  that  Mr.  Ferris 
had  first  shown  these  fowls  in  Bangor  in  1875.  They  were 
judged  and  admitted  to  be  the  first  White  Plymouth  Rocks  ever 
shown.  They  came  from  the  farm  of  Mr.  Ferris,  this  being 
called  Dirigo  Farm.  Mr.  Beal,  Mr.  Ferris  and  others  claimed 
the  credit  of  originating  the  fowls  and  the  right  of  naming  them. 
An  attempt  was  made  to  read  the  memorial.  This,  however,  was 
denied  and  the  document  was  never  admitted  to  the  records  of 
the  meeting.  I  now  regret  that  it  was  not  preserved,  although 
at  that  time  I  objected  to  its  admission  to  the  record.  It  would 
doubtless  reveal  some  interesting  facts  concerning  the  origin  of 
this  fowl. 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STA^'DARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  199 

The  objection  raised  to  the  admission  of  all  these  fowls  was 
that  they  had  been  shown  as  three  separate  breeds — White 
Plymouth  Rocks,  White  Javas  and  Dirigos — whereas  they  were 
in  reahty  three  separate  strains  only.  i\bout  the  only  difference 
between  them  was  that  the  White  Plymouth  Rocks  and  Dirigos 
had  yellow  shanks ;  some  of  the  Javas  had  shanks  of  willow- 
color  like  those  of  the  Game  Fowls ;  still  others  had  yellow 
shanks.  By  agreement,  both  the  White  Plymouth  Rocks  and 
the  White  Javas  were  admitted,  the  White  Javas  to  be  disquali- 
fied for  shanks  of  any  color  but  yellow.  The  White  Plymouth 
Rocks  were  required  to  have  yellow  shanks.  These  disquali- 
fications supplied  a  method  for  and  influenced  a  speedy  separa- 
tion between  the  two.  The  White  Plymouth  Rocks  have  im- 
proved continually  since  their  admission  to  the  Standard,  while 
the  White  Javas  have  become  obsolete. 

The  Result  of  Recognition. — The  admission  of  so  many 
white  varieties  to  the  Standard  of  Perfection  was  the  signal  for 
unusual  activity  among  those  who  bred  white-plumaged  fowls. 
This  influence  extended  even  to  turkeys,  ducks  and  geese.  So 
much  was  written  about  them  that  many  who  had  kept  or  were 
keeping  other  fowls  forsook  them,  and  turned  to  the  breeding 
of  white-plumaged  fowls.  The  advocates  of  the  White  Plymouth 
Rock  were  so  ardent  and  so  apt  in  presenting  the  merits  of  that 
variety  to  the  public  that  there  was  a  general  reaction  in  favor 
of  them  During  the  years  that  followed,  many  efforts  were 
made  in  behalf  of  other  varieties,  but  in  the  melting  pot  of  public 
opinion,  the  White  Plymouth  Rock  has  continued  to  gain  until 
its  true  value  is  recognized  in  every  land. 

It  is  certainly  true  that  there  is  no  one  best  breed  or  variety 
of  fowls ;  the  best  for  all  is  the  kind  best  suited  to  the  needs  and 
pleasure  of  the  one  who  selects  them.  The  real  quality  of  any 
breed  or  variety  has  been,  and  will  continue  to  be,  built  up  by 
the  energy  and  skill  of  those  who  breed  it.  Those  who  have 
chosen  the  White  Plymouth  Rock  have  chosen  well.  They  have 
succeeded  in  satisfying  their  ambition  as  well  as  in  gaining  the 
favor  of  the  general  public.  However,  no  one  breed  or  variety 
ever  gains  unchallenged  supremacy,  although  the  White  Plym- 
outh Rock  has  become  a  favorite  as  a-  fowl  for  exhibition,  for 
table  purposes,  and  for  profitable  egg  production.     (T.  T.  McG.) 


AM  ERIC  AX  POULTRY  Afif^OCIATION 


TLATE  50 


WHITE  PLYMOUTH  ROCK  MALE 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  201 


"LATK   r,l 


WHITE  PLYMOUTH  ROCK  FEMALE 


202  AMERICAX  POFLTRY  Af<SOCIATIOX 

CHAPTER  II. 
WHITE  PLYMOUTH  ROCK  PLUMAGE 

STANDARD    DESCRIPTION 
Disqualifications 

Red,  buff  or  positive  black  in  any  part  of  plumage  ;  shanks 
other  than  yellow.  (See  general  and  Plymouth  Rock  disqualifi- 
cations.) 

COLOR    OF    MALE    AND    FEMALE 

Beak. — Yellow. 
Eyes. — Reddish-bay. 

Comb,  Face,  Wattles  and  Ear-Lobes. — Bright  red. 
Shanks  and  Toes. — Rich  yellow. 

Plumage. — Web.  fluff  and  quills  of  feathers  in  all  sections, 
pure  white. 

DESCRIPTION 

The  Standard  of  Perfection  confines  itself  to  one  description 
of  shape  for  each  breed.  All  varieties  of  that  breed  must  con- 
form to  this  description.  The  most  difficult  problems  in  select- 
ing for  exhibition  and  in  judging  fowls  arise  from  the  marked 
differences  in  shape  among  the  specimens  in  the  show  rooms. 
We  do  not  imagine  that  there  ever  has  been  shown,  even  in  the 
keenest  competition,  any  number  of  any  breed  or  variety,  all  the 
males  of  which  conformed  to  the  Standard  shape  description. 
Nor  will  such  conformity  ever  be  obtained.  The  same  is  true  of 
the  females.  Therefore,  those  who  breed  White  Plymouth  Rocks 
for  exhibition  should  study  carefully  the  description  of  shape 
for  that  variety,  in  a  preceding  chapter. 

White  Plumage. — The  plumage  of  the  White  Plymouth  Rock 
is  just  what  the  name  implies — pure-white  in  every  section  ;  pos- 
sibly no  other  color  that  can  be  as  simply  and  briefly  treated  in 
text  is  as  diflicult  to  breed.  Because  the  skin,  beak  and  legs  are 
yellow,  pure  white  plumage  is  hard  to  obtain.  The  yellow  pig- 
ment necessary  to  color  the  skin,  beak  and  legs  is  inclined  to  dis- 
tribute itself  where  it  is  not  desired,  as  well  as  where  it  is  re- 
quired. The  color  problem  is  then  to  restrict  the  yellow  pigment 
to  those  sections  in  which  it  is  required. 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  203 

The  Standard  requires  that  the  web,  fluff  and  quill  of  the 
feathers  in  all  sections  shall  be  a  pure  white.  Another  statement 
to  the  same  effect  would  be  that  the  surface,  undercolor  and  quill 
of  all  sections  should  be  pure  white. 

Defects  of  White  Plumage. — \'ery  often  the  quills  will  be 
slightly  creamy,  even  when  the  web  and  fluff  are  pure  white. 
Yellow  and  creamy  tinges  seem  to  cling  most  tenaciously  to  the 
largest  quills  and  will  appear  in  the  quills  of  the  flights  and 
secondaries  of  the  wing  if  they  appear  in  any  section  of  the 
plumage ;  thus  the  quills  of  the  primaries  may  be  taken  in  a 
measure  as  an  index  of  the  color  of  the  bird,  relatively  as  be- 
tween pure  white  and  creamy  white ;  that  is,  if  these  quills  are 
white  the  entire  plumage  is  usually  pure  white. 

Black  plumage  is  apt  to  come  in  the  whitest  fowls.  This 
cannot  always  be  avoided,  nor  is  a  small  quantity  of  black  con- 
sidered a  breeding  defect.  What  is  known  as  ticking,  small 
specks  of  grey,  slate  or  black,  occurs  to  a  certain  extent  in  white 
specimens. 

The  Breeders'  Problem. — The  problem  for  correctly  mating 
for  color  would  then  seem  to  be  solved  by  mating  the  whitest 
birds  together.  This  problem  would  then,  if  color  alone  were  to 
be  considered,  be  very  easily  and  quickly  mastered.  However, 
because  of  the  requirements  in  shape,  color  of  legs,  eyes,  comb 
as  well  as  consideration  of  size  and  vigor,  which  must  be  taken 
into  account,  the  problem  becomes  more  intricate  than  it  at  first 
appears.    (T.  F.  McG.) 


CHAPTER  III. 

MATING    WHITE    PLYMOUTH    ROCKS 

On  the  above  subject  we  quote  the  following  from  U.  R. 
Fishel,  an  experienced  and  successful  breeder  of  this  variety. 

Mating  White  Plymouth  Rocks. — "The  greatest  pleasure  to 
be  obtained  in  breeding  fancy  poultry  is  to  produce  by  careful 
mating  of  your  fowls  some  excejjtionally  fine  specimen  or  speci- 
mens. We  are  never  satisfied  with  the  results  obtained,  but  each 
breeding  season  an  effort  must  be  and  is  made  to  so  mate  our 
fowls  that  we  may  expect  better  results  from  the  breeding  yards. 
We  know  one  must  produce  better  specimens  each  season  or  fall 
behind  the  great  army  of  successful  breeders. 


204  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

"That  'Like  produces  like,'  we  do  not  dispute,  but  in  pro- 
ducing Standard  White  Plymouth  Rocks  it  is  not  the  fact  that 
we  want  like  to  produce  like,  but  we  want  to  produce  better 
specimens  each  and  every  seasons ;  that  is,  specimens  nearer  the 
standard  requirements. 

"With  this  in  view  we  must  mate  our  breeders,  not  to  pro- 
duce birds  of  the  same  general  make-up,  but  specimens  better 
than  those  we  already  have. 

"It  is  not  necessary  to  use  the  double  mating  system  to  pro- 
duce high  grade  White  Plymouth  Rocks.  Just  as  good  males 
as  females  can  be  reared  from  the  same  mating  providing,  of 
course,  that  the  mating  has  been  made  properly.  The  color 
required  in  White  Plymouth  Rocks  is  a  clear  white ;  therefore, 
in  selecting  your  breeders,  see  that  the  plumage  throughout  is 
white." 

Difficulties. — Pure  white  is  quite  difficult  to  maintain  in  the 
plumage  of  fowls  and  birds.  It  is  less  difficult  to  produce  in 
some  kinds  than  in  others.  With  the  White  Plymouth  Rock  it 
is  a  difficult  problem  to  produce  yellow  beak,  shanks,  feet  and 
skin.  The  less  brilliant  the  color  of  the  skin  and  shanks,  the 
more  likely  will  be  a  pure  white  plumage.  Any  variety  of  white 
fowls  may  be  selected  and  bred  in  line  for  pale  lemon  beaks, 
shanks  and  skin  and  the  color  of  the  plumage  will  become  grad- 
usually  whiter  as  the  color  fades  from  these  parts.  There  is  no 
other  combmation  in  the  breeding  of  solid  colored  plumage  that 
is  as  difficult  as  producing  the  rich,  yellow  colored  shanks  and 
skin  with  the  pure  white  plumage. 

But  few  can  select  pure  white  to  a  certainty.  Few  have  seen 
it  in  its  purity.  The  purest  white  comes  from  bleaching  and,  as 
in  the  manufacture  of  paper,  as  soon  as  it  is  exposed  to  the  air 
and  light,  it  begins  to  lose  its  purity.  This  is  equally  true  of 
white-plumaged  fowls  during  the  molt  or  the  growing  of  new 
feathers.  This  impurity  is  apt  to  disappear  as  the  feathers  grow. 
The  plumage  shows  a  stronger  yellow  tint  when  the  feathers  are 
growing  than  after  the  bird  is  fully  fledged  and  the  feathers 
have  aged. 

Color  Relation  in  Shanks  and  Skin. — The  heredity  that  pro- 
duces the  rich  yellow  tint  in  shanks  and  skin  has  its  influence 
upon  the  color  of  the  plumage  as  well.  The  deeper  the  shade  of 
yellow  in  these  parts,  the  more  likely  is  the  plumage  to  have 
a  creamy  tint.  To  avoid  this,  one  must  select  fowls  that  have 
the  least  color  in  shanks,  skin  and  quills.  The  yellow  pigment 
that  sustains  the  color  of  shanks  and  skin  disappears  gradually 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  205 

from  these  sections  when  the  hen  lays  eggs.  Therefore,  when 
selecting  for  color,  the  stage  of  growth  in  which  you  find  the 
feathers  and  the  length  of  laying  period  should  be  taken  into 
consideration. 

Excel  in  Conformation. — Breeding  White  Plymouth  Rocks 
differs  in  no  particular  from  breeding  the  other  varieties  of 
Plymouth  Rocks  as  far  as  conformation  is  concerned,  but  it  is 
understood  that  White  Plymouth  Rocks  are  of  one  color  and 
should  be  of  a  single  tone  or  shade  of  that  color  and  on  that 
account  particular  attention  may  be  paid  to  shape  characteristics. 
The  White  variety  is  expected  to  excel  in  shape.  Shape  features 
of  importance  in  which  they  may  be  expected  to  excel  are :  The 
full,  round,  deep  breast,  long  and  deep  body  and  well-propor- 
tioned abdomen.  The  best  formation  is  a  body  that  is  evenly 
poised  on  shanks  with  about  an  equal  proportion  of  breast  and 
body  in  front,  and  a  like  amount  of  body  and  abdomen  in  the 
rear  of  the  shanks. 

In  the  breeding  of  fowls  of  all  kinds  it  must  be  remembered 
that  size,  shape,  general  formation  and  color,  must  all  of  them 
have  due  consideration.  If  any  one  of  the  first  three  is  lacking, 
the  fowls  do  not  conform  to  breed  description ;  if  the  color  is 
poor,  the  variety  distinction  is  faulty  ;  the  best  quality  in  all  of 
these  features  is  demanded  for  white  fowls. 

Size  and  Quality. — Hens  that  conform  to  the  Standard  de- 
scription are  the  best.  They  should  be  fully  as  large  as  Standard 
requirements  suggest,  not  large  by  weight  through  being  overly 
fat,  but  large  and  well  proportioned  for  the  breed.  These  hens 
must  be  true  Plymouth  Rocks  in  every  sense.  They  will  answer 
best  if  almost  entirely  free  from  shape  defects. 

Overcoming  Defects. — ^There  may  be  a  possible  chance  to 
overcome  a  defect  in  one  section  of  a  hen  by  having  superior 
quality  in  the  same  section  of  her  mate,  but  the  continued  prac- 
tice of  mating  good  or  true  quality  on  both  sides  will  bring  the 
best  results. 

Selection. — To  succeed  in  the  breeding  of  pure  white  plum- 
age, fowls  with  this  kind  of  plumage  should  be  selected,  and,  if 
in  addition,  they  have  produced  offspring  with  pure  white  plum- 
age, these  are  the  best  selections  possible.  Careful  attention 
must  be  given  to  both  breeding  and  feeding,  as  well  as  to  the 
selection  year  after  year  for  the  shade  of  color  most  desired, 
which  in  this  case  is  pure  white. 

The  best  way  to  produce  pure  white  plumage  in  White  Plym- 
outh Rocks  is  to  select  for  breeding  such  fowls  as  show  Standard 


206 


AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 


PLATE  52 


ILLUSTRATING    FOVli    TEEIODS   IN'    THE    I'EOGRESS   OF   WHITE 

PLYMOUTH   ROCK   FEMALES   DURING   THE 

LAST  FIFTEEN  YEARS 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK     207 


PLATE  53 


FOUR    WHITK     PLYMOUTH    ROOK    ^L\LKS,     KAUH    TYPICAL    OF 

THE   PERIOD   IT   REPRESENTS,   ILLUSTRATING    THE 

PROGRESS    OF    THIS    VARIETY    DURING 

THE     PAST    FIFTEEN     YEARS 


208  AMERICAN  POULTRY  A^tiOCIATlON 

qualities  and  especially  pure  white  plumage.  No  fowl  of  this 
variety  should  be  used  for  breeding  that  has  pinkish  white 
shanks,  which  is  a  disqualification.  Lemon-colored  shanks  are 
permissible,  but  there  must  be  enough  of  the  yellow  shade  in 
the  shanks  to  prevent  the  possible  loss  of  a  prize  in  consequence 
of  the  shanks  being  called  another  shade  than  yellow  by  the 
judge,  which  would  disqualify  the  specimen. 

It  is  quite  a  problem  to  breed  the  pure  white  so  much  ad- 
mired in  the  plumage  of  White  Plymouth  Rocks,  a  clean,  clear 
color  down  to  the  skin,  with  the  quill  of  the  feathers  of  the  same 
shade  of  white;  but  it  is  one  that  is  being  accomplished  by  close 
selection  of  breeding  stock  and  sound  common-sense  methods  of 
rearing.  Beyond  selection,  good  care  must  be  accorded  both  the 
breeding  and  the  young  stock.  The  breeding  stock  must  be  kept 
in  the  best  of  condition  or  inferior  chicks  will  be  produced. 
Chicks  that  have  not  strong  constitutions  are  never  winning 
specimens  in  strong  competition  nor  do  they  make  good  breeders. 

Breeders  of  White  Plymouth  Rocks,  almost  without  excep- 
tion, use  the  single  mating  system,  even  when  seeking  to  pro- 
duce the  very  highest  class  of  exhibition  specimens.  (T.  F.  McG.) 

FEEDING    WHITE    BIRDS 

Because  foods  of  an  oily  nature  have  a  perceptible  influence 
on  the  color  of  the  plumage,  only  the  minimum  amount  required 
for  the  growth  of  the  young  should  be  given.  These  include 
corn,  and  corn  meal,  principally  among  cereals,  and  beef  scraps 
among  animal  food  products.  Cottonseed  and  linseed  meals  are 
foodstuffs  that  should  be  restricted  or  omitted  altogether.  Wheat, 
when  available,  barley  and  oats,  are  all  proper  grain  foods  for 
adult  birds.  The  wheat  by-products — bran,  shorts  and  middlings 
— are  the  best  selections  for  ground  foods.  White  corn  is  also 
considered  much  less  injurious  to  white  plumage  than  yellow 
corn.  For  growing  chicks,  oats  or  barley  must  be  hulled  and 
cracked. 


SECTION     IV. 

CHAPTER  I. 

BUFF  PLYMOUTH  ROCKS 

THE    ORIGIN    AND    EARLY    DEVELOPMENT 

THE  Bufif  Plymouth  Rocks  were  admitted  to  the  Standard 
of  Perfection  in  1892,  and  were  the  third  of  the  Rock 
family  to  be  so  honored,  preceding  by  fifteen  years  the 
Silver  Penciled,  the  next  variety  to  follow,  which  was  in  turn 
closely  followed  by  the  Partridge  and  Columbian  varieties.  We 
have,  then,  two  groups  separated  from  one  another  by  the  dates 
on  which  they  were  recognized  by  the  American  Poultry  Asso- 
ciation, the  older  comprising  the  then  more  plainly  garbed  vari- 
eties. Barred,  White  and  Buff,  the  general  effect  of  each  being 
that  of  a  solid  color;  and  the  later  group,  Silver-Penciled,  Part- 
ridge and  Columbian,  which  display  more  intricate  and  striking 
markings. 

The  Origin. — The  first  Buff  Plymouth  Rocks  were  undoubt- 
edly derived  fro'm  stock  that  was  contemporary  with  the  pro- 
genitors of  Rhode  Island  Reds,  a  breed,  though  then  unnamed 
and  unauthorized  by  the  American  Poultry  Association,  that 
was  being  developed  by  certain  communities  of  Rhode  Island, 
located  not  far  from  Fall  River,  Massachusetts,  where  the  Buff 
Plymouth  Rock  originated  and  where  one  of  the  earliest  strains 
was  developed.  This  association  by  location  of  the  early  Rhode 
Island  Reds  with  our  American-made  buff  varieties  and  the  nat- 
ural outcome  is  at  once  noteworthy  and  later  becomes  significant. 

The  First  Exhibit. — The  credit  for  first  showing  Buff  Plym- 
outh Rocks  under  that  name  belongs  to  R.  G.  Bufiington  of  Fall 
River,  Massachusetts,  who  gave  the  variety  its  initiatory  exhibi- 
tion experience  at  Providence,  Rhode  Island,  in  1890.  At  the 
same  time  and  place  Dr.  Aldrich,  also  of  Fall  River,  showed 
fowls  of  similar  breeding  and  type  which  he  called  "Golden 
Buffs." 

Though  Golden  Buffs  and  Buff  Plymouth  Rocks  were  similar 
in  breeding  and  appearance  in  every  way.  Golden  Buffs  failed 
signally  to  command  public  attention.     It  would  be  difticult  to 

209 


210  AM  ERIC  AX  POULTRY  AS^^OCIATION 

imagine  an  incident  that  could  better  attest  the  hold  that  the 
Plymouth  Rock  breed  had  on  the  poultry-keeping  public  at  that 
time,  and  has  had  since,  than  this  radically  practical  demon- 
stration. This  incident  alone  enables  us  to  understand  that  this 
high  regard  in  which  the  name  Plymouth  Rock  has  been  held 
probably  accounts  for  the  fact  that  we  have  six  varieties  instead 
of  one  only.  Indeed,  it  may  be  said  that  the  intrinsic  worth  of  a 
good  name  and  of  a  popularity  richly  deserved  has.  perhaps, 
never  been  so  forcefully  presented  in  poultry  circles  as  by  this 
incident  at  the  Providence,  Rhode  Island  Show  in  1890. 

The  Fall  River  Strain. — According  to  Mr.  Buffington.  the 
Fall  River  strain  was  created  by  crossing  Rhode  Island  Reds  and 
White  Plymouth  Rocks,  and  by  the  breeding  of  such  single  comb 
Rhode  Island  Reds  as  were  buff  or  nearly  Inift'  in  color  and  ap- 
proached a  satisfactory  Plymouth  Rock  type. 

Mr.  Daniel  Shove  of  Fall  River,  who  was  working  along 
much  the  same  lines  as  Mr.  Buffington  and  Dr.  Aldrich,  wrote 
of  the  origin  of  the  Buff  Plymouth  Rock  under  date  of  October 
9,  1917,  that  "It  was  along  about  the  year  1888  that  the  late 
William  Penn  Shepard.  R.  G.  Buffington.  Dr.  N.  B.  Aldrich  and 
the  writer  first  began  to  go  to  Westport,  Massachusetts,  and  pick 
up  a  few  of  the  above  birds  ;  the  single  combs  we  called  Buff 
Rocks,  the  rose  combs.  Buff  Wyandottes.  The  writer  from  1889 
to  1895  kept  the  Wyandottes  (buff),  and  exhibited  quite  a  few 
at  Philadelphia  in  1893.  and  at  that  time  they  were  coming  very 
good  and  the  demand  for  them  was  also  good.  I  had  always 
bought  most  of  the  above  of  a  Mr.  Tripp,  of  Central  Village, 
Westport,  and  by  the  way,  this  was  not  the  Rhode  Island  Red 
founder  at  all ;  he  was  another  man  farther  over  by  the  same 
name,  as  the  name  Tripp  at  that  time  was  quite  common." 

It  is  probable  that  many  early  Buff  Plymouth  Rocks  were 
bred  by  crossing  White  Plymouth  Rocks  with  Buff  Cochins  and 
that  true  Rock  type,  together  with  fairly  good  color  for  the 
times,  was  afterwards  developed  by  careful  selection.  It  is  very 
unlikely  that  all  those  interested  in  Buff  Rocks  would  let  escape 
the  very  apparent  opportunity  to  obtain  buff  color  by  crossing 
some  variety  that  possessed  Plymouth  Rock  type  w^ith  the  Buff 
Cochin,  which  is  known  to  be  the  source  of  all  our  best  buff 
color. 

The  Joslin  Strain.— In  the  decade  between  1890  and  1900, 
several  strains  were  prominent.     One  of  these  strains  was  de- 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STAXDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  211 

veloped  by  the  late  J.  O.  Joslin,  Tiashoke,  New  York.  Of  this 
line,  the  book,  The  Plymouth  Rock  (Reliable  Poultry  Journal 
series),  states  that  it  was  a  fine  strain,  of  good  size  and  true 
Rock  type,  that  the  color  was  quite  even  on  the  surface  and 
sound  underneath,  and  the  tail  and  flights  showed  very  little 
black  peppering  or  markings.  Mr.  Joslin  claimed  that  his  strain 
had  no  Cochin,  but  was  largely  of  Plymouth  Rock  blood.  This 
statement  arouses  curiosity  in  two  connections,  namely,  what 
then  was  the  source  of  buff  color,  and  what  was  the  method  of 
crossing  or  breeding  that  could  create  or  develop  Buff  Plymouth 
Rocks  that  were  largely  of  Plymouth  Rock  blood,  when  only 
two  other  varieties.  Barred  and  White,  then  existed,  from  which 
it  is  inconceivable  that  buff  could  be  derived  ? 

Other  strains  were  developed  in  the  early  days  of  this  variety, 
two  of  the  most  prominent  of  which,  the  Nugget  strain  and  the 
Wilson  strain,  were  originated  and  developed  in  New  York  state. 

The  Wilson  Strain. — (From  the  l)ook.  The  Plymouth  Rock, 
Reliable  Poultry  Journal  series).  Another  strain  of  Buff  Plym- 
outh Rocks  was  originated  by  J.  S.  Wilson,  Worcester,  New 
York,  who  writes  about  the  origin  and  development  as  follows : 
"I  was  reading  about  the  new  variety  of  Buff  Leghorns  in  The 
Fancier's  Gazette,  London,  England,  that  strongly  suggested  the 
possibility  of  producing  a  Buff  Plymouth  Rock  fowl,  too.  I 
was  at  once  vigilantly  looking  over  the  various  yards  in  this 
vicinity.  After  many  disappointments  in  my  searches,  I  was 
finally  successful  in  finding  in  a  relative's  yard  a  male  bird  that 
gave  me  great  joy  from  seeing  so  typical  a  Rock.  It  was  the 
result  of  a  cross  between  the  American  type  of  Buff  Cochin  and 
a  Light  Brahma.  He  was  a  beautiful,  even,  golden-buff  color 
throughout,  except  that  his  tail  was  nearly  black.  He  had  clean, 
yellow  legs,  small  comb,  etc.,  and  weighed  twelve  pounds.  I 
selected  from  the  same  yard  two  of  the  best  hens,  having  an  even 
surface  color  and  the  least  feathering  on  legs.  From  these  birds, 
the  foundation  of  this  popular  variety  of  the  Rock  family  was 
produced. 

'T  raised  that  year  about  forty  chicks,  the  result  being  beyond 
my  most  sanguine  expectations.  I  selected  two  yards  of  very 
creditable  ones  from  these.  I  was  puzzled  over  the  amount  of 
ticking  that  showed  on  their  hackles,  as  the  parent  birds  were 
perfectly  free  from  that  defect.  However,  I  came  to  the  con- 
clusion that  it  was  probably  the  result  of  the  Light  Brahma 
blood  they  contained  asserting  itself. 


212 


AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 


"The  next  season  brought  about  a  more  satisfactory  outlook, 
and  they  continued  to  improve  until  the  World's  Fair  (Chicago. 
1893),  tirst  prize  cock,  hen,  cockerel,  pullet  and  pen  were  pro- 
duced. Not  any  of  these  birds  were  ticked  and  two  hens  were 
nearly  solid  buff.  Of  course,  they  had  their  defects.  Some  ex- 
celled in  one  section  and  some  in  another,  no  one  specimen 
having  the  much  desired  whole  that  was  close  to  the  ideal.  The 
advancement  since  their  creation  reaching  a  point  in  breeding 
where  not  a  bird  showed  any  ticking  or  feathers  on  legs,  with  a 
uniform  covering  of  golden  buff  plumage,  is  certainly  phenom- 
enal in  so  short  a  space  of  time  as  ten  years." 

The  Nugget  Strain. — One  of  the  most  popular  strains  fifteen 
years  ago  was  originated  by  H.  S.  Burdick,  Rome,  New  York, 
who  named  it  the  "Nugget  Strain,"  a  happy  choice,  as  speci- 
mens of  the  latter  were  particularly  strong  in  the  golden  buff 
surface  color  and  were  also  noted  for  the  soundness  in  color  of 
their  tail  and  flight  feathers,  the  latter  being  free  from  black  or 


PLATE  54 


Sketch  of  early  Buff  Plymouth 
Rock  hen  exhibited  at  Madison 
Square  Garden,  New  York,  1896, 
by  their  originator,  J.  D.  Wilson. 
(First  Prize  Winner.) 


Sketch  of  early  Buff  Plymouth 
Rock  cockerel,  exhibited  at  Mad- 
ison Square  Garden,  New  York, 
1896,  by  their  originator,  J.  D. 
Wilson.      (First   Prize   Winner.) 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  .STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  213 

white  Many  of  the  winning  specimens  of  today  have  the  old 
"Nugget"  blood  flowing  in  their  veins,  and  owe  their  soundness 
in  surface  and  undercolor  to  this  source. 

By  combination  of  the  blood  of  these  different  strains  and 
selection  of  the  best  specimens.  Buff  Plymouth  Rocks  that  are 
true  to  both  the  color  and  shape  descriptions  of  the  variety  have 
been  and  are  being  produced. 

The  foregoing  gives  a  history  in  brief  of  the  origin  and 
early  development  of  Buff  Plymouth  Rocks.  From  beyond  this 
point  it  is  difficult  to  follow  the  development  of  the  different 
strains  and  diversing  lines  of  each  in  the  hands  of  the  many  who 
take  up  the  breeding  of  a  popular  variety.  That  the  blood  of 
these  (lift'erent  strains  has  been  mingled  repeatedly  is  an  assured 
fact.  The  good  quality  of  present  day  Buff  Plymouth  Rocks 
may  be  attributed  to  the  intelligent  selection  and  crossing  of 
individual  specimens  from  these  prominent  early  strains. 


PLATE  55 


First  prize  Buff  Plymouth 
Kock  cockerel  at  Boston  1903, 
that  sold  for  $300.  Probably  the 
highest  price  paid  for  a  Ply- 
mouth Rock  up  to  that  time. 

(Cockerel  bred  bv  Millvillc 
I'oultry  Farm,  Millvillc,  N.  Y., 
M.  F.  Delano,  manager.  Sold 
to  Mr.  Weimer  of  Pennsylvania, 
who   named  him    "Gold  Force.") 


214  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 


PLATK  ofi 


BUFF   PLYMOUTH   ROCK   MALE 


PLYMOHrH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  215 


BTTFF    PLYMOUTH    ROCK    F  KM  ALE 


216  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

CHAPTER  II. 
BUFF  PLYMOUTH  ROCK  PLUMAGE 

STANDARD    DESCRIPTION 

Disqualifications 

Shanks  other  than  yellow.  (See  general  and  Plymouth  Rock 
disqualifications.) 

COLOR    OF    MALE 

Beak.— Yellow. 

Eyes. — Reddish-bay. 

Comb,  Face,  Wattles  and  Ear-Lobes. — Bright  red. 

Shanks  and  Toes. — Rich  yellow. 

Plumage. — Surface  throughout  an  even  shade  of  rich  golden 
buff,  free  from  shafting  or  mealy  appearance,  the  head,  neck, 
hackle,  back,  wing-bows  and  saddle  richly  glossed  ;  undercolor 
a  lighter  shade  free  from  foreign  color.  Different  shades  of  buff 
in  two  or  more  sections  is  a  serious  defect.  A  harmonious  blend- 
ing of  buff  in  all  sections  is  most  desirable. 

COLOR  OF  FEMALE 

Beak. — Yellow. 

Eyes. — Reddish-bay. 

Comb,  Face,  Wattles  and  Ear-Lobes. — Bright  red. 

Shanks  and  Toes. — Rich  yellow. 

Plumage. — Surface  throughout  an  even  shade  of  rich,  golden 
buff,  free  from  shafting  or  mealy  appearance,  the  head  and  neck 
plumage  showing  a  luster  of  the  same  shade  as  the  rest  of  the 
plumage ;  undercolor,  a  lighter  shade,  free  from  foreign  color. 
Different  shades  of  buff  in  two  or  more  sections  is  a  serious 
defect.  A  harmonious  blending  of  buff  in  all  sections  is  most 
desirable. 

DEVELOPMENT   OF    BUFF   COLOR 

To  fully  comprehend  the  faults  of  buff  color  and  the  diffi- 
culties of  eliminating  these  faults,  an  understanding  of  the  evolu- 
tion of  buff  color  in  the  plumage  of  domestic  fowls  would  be 
helpful,  even  if  it  is  not  wholly  necessary. 

That  the  bright,  clean,  uniform  and  pleasing  shade  now  de- 
gcribed  and  required  by  the  Standard  for  all  recognized  buff  vari- 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  217 

eties  was  not  the  result  of  a  decision  arrived  at  or  a  selection 
determined  upon  quickly,  but  rather  that  it  was  the  result  of  a 
gradual  development  in  the  tastes  and  education  of  those  expo- 
nents of  true  beauty  as  revealed  in  the  buff  varieties,  becomes 
most  apparent  after  a  brief  perusal  of  any  of  the  authentic  de- 
scriptions of  our  first  importations  or  early  American  and  Eng- 
lish productions  of  Bufif  Cochin,  which  was  the  original  bufif 
fowl  of  all  lands,  so  far  as  known,  and  which  descriptions  we 
take  in  order  that  comparisons  may  be  made  with  the  present 
standard  description  of  these  varieties ;  or.  more  clearly  con- 
vincing yet  is  a  comparison  of  these  descriptions  of  the  early 
importations  and  native  productions  with  living  specimens  of 
the  truest  color  types.  Judging  from  these  comparisons,  the 
almost  incredibly  wide  contrast  between  the  two  must  have 
developed  gradually,  and  this  evolution  is  perhaps  nowhere  bet- 
ter or  more  clearly  indicated  than  in  the  successive  editions  of 
the  American  Standard  of  Excellence  and  its  successor,  the 
American  Standard  of  Perfection,  brief  extracts  from  which  will 
be  sufficient,  not  only  to  make  this  point  clear,  but  to  show  the 
progressive  steps  by  which  the  present  popular  buff  shade  was 
acquired. 

Color  requirements  in  the  1875  edition  are  placed  on  each 
section  along  with  the  shape  requirements  for  that  section,  and 
in  some  instances  strangely  mingled,  and  only  on  a  few  occasions 
do  we  find  the  color  requirements  of  one  section  identical  with 
those  of  another.  ".  .  .  Rich  clear  bufif" — "rich,  abundant, 
clear  buff  hackle" — "rich,  clean  buff" — "a  clear,  deep  buff" — are 
the  color  descriptions  found  of  some  sections  for  the  male,  while 
such  sections  as  wings  and  fluff  have  no  color  description  for 
plumage,  except  that  wings  are  required  to  be  "quite  free  from 
a  mealy  appearance." 

All  the  evidence  that  we  may  obtain  from  the  successive 
Standard  descriptions  indicates  that  the  greatest  advance  that 
has  been  made  in  nearly  half  a  century  is  most  clearly  brought 
out  by  the  difference  in  the  descriptions  of  the  color  for  the  tail 
section.  In  1875,  "a  rich,  dark  chestnut,  or  bronzy-chestnut 
mixed  with  black — dark  chestnut  preferred ;"  needless  to  say 
there  is  no  admiration  expressed  for  chestnut  colored  tails,  to 
ignore  completely  those  that  contain  any  amount  of  black,  in 
either  males  or  females  of  any  buff  variety  at  the  present  time, 
when  the  tail  is  expected  not  only  to  be  bufif.  but  to  be  of  the 
same  shade  as  the  rest  of  the  plumage.  This  description  of  color 
for  this  section  remained  practically  unchanged  until  the  1898 


218  AMERICAN  POl  LTRY  ASSOf'IATIOX 

edition  became  effective,  which  fact,  together  with  the  knowledge 
that  this  admixture  of  black  and  the  existence  of  chestnut  shades 
even  at  the  present  time  in  the  tails  of  many  specimens  (though 
not  the  best  ones,  thanks  to  the  skill  of  the  breeders  of  buff 
varieties,  past  and  present),  emphasizes  the  weM  knov,-n  diffi- 
culty of  producing  clear,  golden-buff  tails. 

The  color  descrijjtion  of  the  female  in  this  (1875)  edition 
shows  greater  uniformity,  being  restricted  to  such  expressions 
as  "rich  buff" — "clear,  rich  buff" — "clear,  pure  buff" — "and  in 
color,  buff."  Even  then  the  description  required  a  tail,  "in  color 
buff"  without  modification.  Evidently,  females  with  clear  buff 
tails  were  not  unknown  even  in  those  days,  and  judging  from 
the  different  Standard  descriptions  of  male  and  female,  must 
have  mere  frequently  occurred  in  females  than  in  males. 

In  this  connection,  it  may  be  well  to  note  that  the  short  lived 
1874  Edition  also  required  a  uniformly  c'ear,  deep  buff  through- 
out, tail  included.  It  may  be  surprising  to  learn,  now  when  buff 
necks  are  the  rule,  that  the  1874  Edition  contained  the  following- 
sentence  :  "A  clear,  buff  hackle  preferred,  but  a  slight  marking 
on  the  end  of  feathers  of  neck  not  a  disqualification."  This 
modification  was  not  discontinued  until  1898. 

Prior  to  1898,  a  marked  difference  of  opinion  as  to  what  con- 
stituted real  "buff"  had  existed.  It  was  seldom  that  the  judges 
arreed  upon  the  exact  shade  that  was  most  desirable  or  the  most 
l?eautiful.  The  lack  of  uniformity  in  the  shades  of  the  winnincr 
specimens  when  judged  by  different  persons  was  commented 
upon  and  deplored  by  the  breeders  generally.  These  discussions 
lerl  to  the  appointment  by  the  Standard  Revision  Committee  for 
the  1898  Edition,  of  a  special  sub-committee  which,  among  other 
duties,  was  to  determine  just  what  real  buff  color  was.  and  then 
to  describe  it  comprehensibl}-.  As  a  result  of  their  investiga- 
tions, we  have  the  Standard  phraseology,  descriptive  of  buff 
color  as  found  in  the  1898  Edition  for  all  buff  varieties,  five  in 
number,  very  nearly  as  it  is  in  the  present  edition.  This  descrip- 
tion was  a  distinct  advance  in  that,  first  of  all.  it  decided  upon 
"golden-buff"  as  the  most  desirable  shade  and  the  most  accurate 
and  expressive  terminology ;  second,  it  demanded  "one  even 
shade  throughout,"  that  is,  in  all  sections,  but  allowed  undercolor 
of  a  lighter  shade,  though  restricting  the  force  of  this  clause 
appreciably  by  further  qualifying  that  "all  things  being  equal, 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  219 

the  specimen  showing  the  richest  undercolor  shall  receive  the 
preference" ;  the  word  "richest"  was  generally  interpreted  to 
mean  the  darkest.  This  was,  however,  the  beginning  of  an  ad- 
mission that  undercolor  in  buff  varieties  was  naturally  and  would 
always  be  lighter  than  the  surface  color.  In  explanation  of  this 
phenomenon,  we  quote  the  following  extract  from  an  article 
written  by  the  late  Ezra  Cornell  in  "The  Leghorns,"  as  follows  : 

"Leghorns  have  comparatively  hard,  close  fitting  feathers. 
In  such  feathers  the  coloring  matter  always  concentrates  in  the 
surface  or  harder  part  of  the  feather;  this  is  according  to  nature, 
and  you  cannot  change  it.  Look  at  some  of  our  most  highly 
colored  wild  birds — the  Scarlet  Tanager,  the  Oriole,  or  even  the 
Canary,  and  you  will  find  an  under  color  which  appears  white  in 
comparison  to  the  surface.  Take  these  same  brilliant  feathers 
and  lay  them  in  the  sunlight  over  a  darker  under  color  and  you 
wiU  deaden  the  color.  The  rays  of  light  pass  through  the  sur- 
face plumage,  and  on  striking  the  light  under  color  are  reflected, 
much  intensified,  which  gives  the  plumage  its  extreme  brilliancy  ; 
whereas  if  the  rays  of  light  on  penetrating  the  surface  were  to 
strike  a  dark  under  color,  they  would  be  absorbed  and  the  sur- 
face color  deadened.  *  *  *  That  I  have  just  written  applies 
especially  to  the  females  ;  the  males  have  a  deeper  under  color, 
but  it  is  not  so  apt  to  be  solid.  Cockerels  are  sometimes  found 
with  seme  white  in  under  color  of  hackle,  which,  as  the  bird 
grows  older,  will  probably  appear  on  the  surface.  A  male  bird 
should  have  sound  under  color.  This  is  important,  although  it 
makes  little  difference  whether  it  is  light  or  dark.  The  shade 
will,  as  a  rule,  correspond  with  and  depend  on  the  shade  of  the 
surface  color." 

The  reader  will  see  no  inconsistency  here,  because  the  flowing 
plumage  of  the  males  is  not  as  hard  as  that  of  the  shorter  female 
plumage. 

The  description  in  the  1898  Standard  was  better  than  that 
found  in  the  one  that  preceded  it  by  ten  years,  in  that  it  do 
mandcd  a  plumage  which  required  more  skill  in  mating  to  pro- 
duce, because  absolute  uniformity  of  color  in  all  sections  was 
required,  while  chestnut  tails  in  males  were  still  allowed  in  the 
1888  Standard,  though  more  uniformity  was  demanded  in  this 
edition  than  in  those  that  in  turn  preceded  it. 

From  this  form  of  progression,  we  perceived  that  a  general 
tendency  toward  acquiring  uniformity  of  color  in  all   sections 


220  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

existed  continuously  from  the  date  of  the  first  edition  until  it 
became  a  requirement  of  the  1898  Standard.  Then,  too,  the  term 
"golden-buff"  was  more  accurate  and  descriptive  than  "rich, 
clear,  deep  buff,"  and  that  it,  as  a  descriptive  term,  met  popular 
approval  is  amply  attested  by  the  fact  that  it  has  continued  to  be 
the  descriptive  color  term  in  all  subsequent  Standards.  In  the 
light  of  the  now  known  general  acceptability  of  this  color  de- 
scription, it  can  be  wondered  that  it  was  not  used  before  in  the 
Standard,  since  it  appears  in  the  description  of  hackle,  back, 
wings,  and  saddle  feathers  of  females  in  the  first  or  1874  Edition, 
and  is  frequently  used  in  descriptions  found  in  the  early  books, 
notably  Burnham's  "New  Poultry  Book,"  published  in  1871, 
from  which  we  quote  the  two  following  extracts :  "The  color  of 
the  Buff  Cochin  is  more  of  a  golden  hue  than  simply  buff.  The 
under  shade  upon  the  downy  or  fluffy  portions  of  their  plumage 
is  pale,  but  to  look  at  when  in  their  best  feather,  they  are  of  a 
rich,  luminous  yellow  shade,  sometimes  aptly  called  lemon- 
colored."  *  *  *  "In  the  cock  of  this  variety  portions  of  his 
plumage  are  red.  or  darker,  as  the  wings,  neck,  hackle j,  etc.,  but 
the  yellow  color  prevails  in  both."  To  show  how  early  this  de- 
sire to  produce  specimens  even  in  color  of  all  sections  developed, 
we  quote  still  further  from  the  same  work.  "A  very  desirable 
recommendation  to  the  Buff  Cochin  is  that  the  fowl  be  strictly 
uniform  in  color  to  answer  the  requirements  of  the  present  aimed 
for  standard." 

Contrast  the  description  of  male  and  female,  which  is  almost 
identical,  found  in  the  Standard  of  1898  and  the  subsequent  edi- 
tions, with  the  descriptions  found  of  the  importations  from  for 
eign  countries  a  little  later  than  the  middle  of  the  nineteenth 
century,  and  we  can  recognize  the  wonderful  skill  of  the  Ameri- 
can breeders,  even  had  this  been  their  sole  accomplishment. 


BUFF  PLYMOUTH  ROCK  COLOR 

In  years  past,  a  diversity  of  opinions  existed  as  to  what  con- 
stituted a  golden  buff,  and  at  an  earlier  period,  the  same  diversity 
of  opinion  existed  as  to  what  shade  of  buff  was  most  desirable. 
Prior  to  1898  Buff  Plymouth  Rocks  had  varied  from  cream  to 
very  deep  shades  that  were  often  so  deep  that  red  and  even 
brown  cropped  out  on  the  wing-bows  and  even  on  the  back.  This 
variation  is  not  at  all  surprising  now  that  the  different  sources 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  A^W  BREED  BOOK  221 

of  ancestry  have  been  related,  as  an  equitable  adjustment  be- 
tween the  white  of  the  White  Plymouth  Rocks  and  the  red  of 
the  Red  fowls,  contemporary  w-ith  and  analagous  to  the  pro- 
genitors of  our  present  Rhode  Island  Reds,  that  Buffington, 
Aldrich  and  probably  others  used  for  the  foundation  of  Buff 
Plymouth  Rocks,  was  not  possible  during  the  early  stages  of  its 
development. 

This  description  as  first  found  in  the  1898  Standard,  and  the 
agreement  upon  this  shade  and  description  was  the  result  of  ex- 
tended research  and  investigation  of  certain  prominent  breeders 
of  Buff  Cochins.  It  has  met  general  approval,  as  shown  by  the 
fact  that  the  slightest  change  has  never  been  suggested. 

Aside  from  its  beauty,  this  shade  of  buff  is  one  that  can  be 
bred  from  and  reproduced  with  much  more  certainty  than  some 
of  the  delicate  shades  that  were  popular  years  ago.  Further- 
more, it  is  a  shade  that  holds  from  year  to  year,  while  the  light 
shades  in  vogue  years  ago  lose  color  very  appreciably  with  age. 
This  fact  lends  aid  to  establish  and  maintain  the  popularity  of 
the  rich,  golden  buff  of  the  last  three  Standards. 


COMMON    DEFECTS    OF    BUFF    COLOR 

Too  Dark  or  Too  Light  in  Shade  of  Surface. — The  popular- 
ity of  all  the  Buff  varieties  is  largely  due  to  the  unique  beauty 
of  the  shade  of  surface  color  required  by  the  Standard,  which  is 
described  as  a  "rich,  golden  buff." 

A  word  description  of  rich,  golden  buff  that  can  be  accurately 
understood  is  almost  if  not  quite  unattainable,  as  word  descrip- 
tions capable  of  conveying  an  accurate  conception  oif  color  to  the 
mind  without  the  aid  of  the  eye  are  absolutely  impossible.  But 
we  may  state  early  in  this  treatise  what  it  is  not :  It  is  not  the 
cream,  nor  lemon,  nor  is  it  the  deep  buff'  shade,  so  common 
during  the  early  years  of  the  variety,  which  bordered  on  red  in 
the  males'  and  cinnamon  or  brown  in  the  females'  plumage.  It 
can  hardly  be  described  as  a  mean  between  these  extremes,  yet  it 
approached  it.  The  term  "golden  buff"  qs  used  in  the  Standard 
is  as  accurate  in  its  suggestion  to  the  eye  as  any  of  the  color 
terms  that  have  been  used.  This  description  clearly  suggests 
that  the  surface  of  both  males  and  females  be  the  same  color  as 
unalloyed  gold,  which  is  described  in  our  old  books  on  chemistry 
as  a  "bright  yellow"  metal.    This  is  suggestive  of  the  true  shade 


222  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

of  color,  yet  it  is  unsafe  as  a  description  without  modification, 
because  there  are  many  shades  of  bright  yellow.  The  best  way, 
if  not  the  only  way,  to  grasp  the  idea  of  real  golden  bufif  is  to  see 
a  specimen  that  some  reliable  authority  has  pronounced  about 
right  in  color.  The  phrase,  "one  even  shade  of  rich,  golden 
buff,"  explains  itself  as  well  as  words  seem  adequate,  but  it  must 
be  admitted  that  to  fully  appreciate  the  significance  of  the  term 
"golden  buff"  and  to  see  in  your  mind  just  what  shade  is  de- 
manded, it  becomes  necessary  to  see  a  specimen  of  ideal  of  very 
nearly  ideal  color,  or  at  least,  feathers  from  such  a  specimen. 
While  it  cannot  be  said  that  judges  agree  always  as  to  the  most 
desirable  shade  of  golden  bufif,  it  can  be  said  that  the  best  and 
most  experienced  judges  do  agree  tolerably  well. 

Unevenness  in  Color. — The  words  of  the  Standard,  "surface 
throughout,  one  even  shade  of  rich,  golden  buff,"  when  given  a 
second  thought,  aptly  present  the  breeders'  problem :  To  produce 
specimens  that  are  one  shade  on  the  surface  of  every  feathered 
section,  including  the  wings  when  extended  and  the  tail  feathers 
when  examined,  for  these  sections  are  considered  part  of  the  sur- 
face— certainly  not  undercolor. 

Individuals  that  are  even  in  surface,  including  wings  and  tail,' 
are  produced  quite  often,  but  while  endeavoring  to  breed  such 
specimens,  many  that  are  uneven  in  surface  color  to  a  greater 
or  lesser  degree  are  produced.  These  variations  include  too 
dark,  and  too  light  necks  ;  dark  wing  bows  in  males  ;  mealiness 
in  females,  more  often  on  the  wing  bows  than  in  other  sections ; 
shaftiness,  especially  noticeable  in  females ;  light  colored  edging, 
sometimes  referred  to  as  straw  edging  on  females  ;  dark  edging, 
much  often  on  the  backs  of  females ;  the  shade  of  top  surface 
darker  than  the  breast  and  fluff,  most  often  in  males,  besides 
defects  in  color  of  wings  and  tail. 

During  the  early  history  of  the  breed  an  even  colored  male 
was  very  rarely  seen.  This  fact  was  particularly  noticeable  in 
both  the  extremely  light  and  extremely  dark  specimens.  The 
chief  fault  in  the  strongly  colored  specimens  was  the  highly 
colored  wing  bows,  which  were  often  decidedly  red  instead  of 
buff.  This  pronounced  defect  is  not  seen  at  the  present  time  in 
males  of  even  ordinary  merit.  The  very  light  buff,  usually  more 
explicitly  designated  by  the  term  "lemon  buff"  males,  have  been 
received  with  highest  favor  in  the  show  room  at  times,  and  in 
certain  localities,  but  have  of  late  years  passed  into  discard  in 


PLYMOITH  ROCK  STAXDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  223 

favor  of  a  particular  shade  of  buff,  expressly  described  as 
"golden  buff'."  which  once  seen  usually  meets  with  instant  ap- 
proval. The  invariable  tendency  of  lemon  buff  males  is  to  fade 
and  lose  color  after  the  first  year,  or  after  the  first  moult;  to 
become  too  light  on  the  back  and  breast  and  to  breed  a  large  pro- 
portion of  males  too  light  in  these  sections.  Light  colored 
females  now  known  by  the  apt  description  of  "cream"  were  also 
})opular  in  certain  sections  of  the  country,  but  only  for  a  short 
time.  From  a  breeder's  standpoint,  these  are  as  undesirable  as 
the  lemon  males. 


PLATE  58 


Buff  riyiiiouth  Eock  male  of  the  old  sIvUmI  iiluiiiage,  showing  most 
pronouncedly  the  too  dark  shoulder  and  wing  bow.  In  the  early  days 
of  the  variety,  a  most  common  example  of  unevenness  "^f  color. 


224 


AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 


Mealiness. — This  objectionable  feature  is  quite  common  in 
females,  generally  in  the  wing  bow  or  coverts,  though  it  is  found 
in  other  sections  of  females,  and  in  breast  and  fluff  of  males. 
Inasmuch  as  no  specimen  that  has  this  defect  can  appear  to  be 
even  in  surface  color,  this  is  a  most  serious  defect  and  particu- 
larly serious  because  it  is  very  difficult  to  breed  out.  It  consists 
of  rather  small  specks,  spots,  or  stipples  of  lighter  color.  It  is 
not  always  so  pronounced  that  it  is  noticeable  by  casual  observa- 
tion, but  it  is  easily  detected  upon  examination  of  the  specimens 
in  the  hand.    See  illustration,  plate  59.     Also  definition,  page  20. 

Shaftiness. — This  is  another  fault  that  causes  uneven  color. 
When  shafting  appears,  it  is  caused  by  the  shafts  of  the  feathers 
being  lighter  or  darker  than  the  webs.  In  most  cases  they  are 
lighter.  They  are  objectionable  because  with  them  an  even  sur- 
face is  impossible.  It  is  more  noticeable  in  the  plumage  of 
females  than  of  males,  except  in  the  breast  and  body.  See  defi- 
nition, page  21.    Also  illustration,  plate  60. 

PLATE  59 


A    Buflf    Plymouth    Eock    fenu 
ing    the    too    dark    wing    bow. 


)wing    uneven    plumage,    includ- 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  225 

Light  Edging. — This  fault  occurs  when  the  edges  which  are 
not  as  dense  in  structure  as  the  body  of  the  feathers  are  Hghter 
in  color.  It  is  found  usually  in  the  back  section  of  females,  but 
infrequently  in  other  sections  of  the  females  and  in  the  breast 
and  body  of  males.     See  illustration,  plate  60. 

Foreign  Color. — Both  black  and  white  are  found  in  the  tails 
and  wings  of  both  sexes.  Black  is  the  more  common  in  tails  and 
secondaries  and  white  in  primaries.  Both  are  decidedly  objec- 
tionable as  the  rules  for  cutting  for  defects  plainly  show,  by  re- 
quiring a  cut  of  from  one-half  a  point  to  the  color  limit  of  the 
section.  Black  in  the  tail  is  a  most  common  fault  and  a  little  at 
the  base  is  not  dealt  with  severely.  The  color  itself  is  usually 
modified,  in  reality  a  reddish-brown  or  brownish  black  and  gen- 
erally appears  in  broken  field  or  in  large  dots  or  small  spots, 
and  sometimes  in  a  few  of  the  main  tail  feathers,  but  not  all. 
It  appears  in  tails  of  both  sexes.  White  is  equally  objectionable 
and  to  some  breeders  more  so  than  black  and  indicates  weak 
color.  Individuals  that  show  considerable  white  in  wing  or  tail 
are  rarely  used  in  breeding,  though  some  white  might  be  toler- 
ated, possibly,  if  the  surface  color  was  even  and  the  undercolor 
strong.  On  the  whole,  white  as  a  color  defect  is  more  easily 
overcome  than  black. 

PLATE  60 


BUFF  PLYMOUTH  KOCKS 

Showiug    (1)    shafting   in    each    feather,    and    (2)    light    edging. 


226  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

Silver-Gray  in  Tails. — A  peculiar  color  effect  is  often  seen  in 
the  tails  of  both  sexes  of  buff'  varieties.  The  main  tail  feathers 
of  some  individuals  are  entirely  silver-gray  in  color,  while  those 
of  others  show  this  shade  only  on  one  side  of  the  quills.  Again, 
it  is  observed  on  the  inside  of  the  tail  feathers,  while  the  outside 
will  appear  buff,  or  nearly  buff. 

Wings. — Black  is  found  in  the  wing,  generally  on  the  upper 
web  of  the  secondaries,  though  it  is  often  seen  in  the  little 
feathers  that  cover  the  bases  of  the  flights.  White  appears  in 
both  flights  and  secondaries.  Poor  health  sometimes  is  account- 
able for  white  in  plumage  of  all  varieties,  but  it  is  inadvisable 
to  find  such  an  excuse  for  placing  birds  with  this  defect  in  the 
breeding  yards.  Brownish  colored  spots  often  appear  in  the 
flights,  a  most  undesirable  characteristic. 

The  presence  of  white  is  not  restricted  to  the  web  of  the 
feather,  as  the  shaft  of  the  flights  very  commonly  shows  white 
at  base.  The  best  specimens  of  the  present  day  show  no  black 
or  white  in  wings,  and  but  little  black  and  no  white  in  tails, 
while  occasionally  specimens  with  wings  and  tail  of  as  good  buff 
color  as  any  part  of  the  plumage  are  produced.  See  Plate  64 
for  an  illustration  of  clean,  even  buff  tail  feathers. 

Tail  Plumage  of  Darker  Shades. — Passing  from  the  presence 
of  black,  white,  or  black  and  white  in  tail  plumage,  we  often  find 
the  plumage  of  this  section  too  dark,  though  neither  ]:)lack  nor 
white  are  present.  The  color,  though  dark,  resembles  buff,  yet 
it  is  plainly  not  buff,  but  rather  more  brown  than  the  golden 
shade  desired.  This  shade  has  been  very  aptly  termed  chestnut, 
and  we  have  what  are  commonly  termed  chestnut-colored  tails. 
Sometimes  that  applies  very  well  to  the  tail  color  as  a  whole, 
but  more  often  as  shown  by  illustration.  Plate  61,  it  appears  in 
patches  on  one  or  more  feathers,  while  the  remainder  of  the 
feather  or  feathers  may  be  buff,  as  shown  in  illustration,  Plate  63. 

Undercolor.  —  In  buff  varieties,  undercolor  is  considered 
largely  from  the  breeder's  standpoint  and  valued  according  to 
its  necessity  in  breeding  the  shade  and  the  evenness  required  in 
surface  color.  However,  undercolor  is  considered  important.  It 
is  impossible  to  breed  specimens  with  undercolor  that  is  as 
strong  as  the  surface  color.  The  undercolor  should  be  buff,  but 
though  buff,  it  is  invariably  of  a  much  lighter  shade  than  the 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK 


227 


surface.  Some  of  the  specimens  which  show  a  splendidly  even 
gold  surface  of  buff  are  very  light  in  undercolor.  This  does  not 
prevent  such  specimens  from  winning,  however,  though  a  shaft 
that  is  buff  to  the  skin  is  much  desired. 


PLATE 


BVVV  PLYMOUTH  ROOKS 


Half -tone  from  jjliotograph  of  .snuiller  sickle  (1)  and  tail  covert 
(2),  showing  the  defect  of  being  marked  with  "chestnut"  color.  Also 
a  tail-covert  feather  (15)  of  pure  even  shade  of  buif.  [See  illustration 
of  complete  tail  (page  229),  showing  same  defect.]  No.  2  shows  the 
defect  of  very  light  undercolor. 


228  AMERICAN  POULTRY  AftSOCIATION 

COLOR  DEFECTS  OF  BUFF  ROCKS  ACCOUNTED  FOR 

After  analyzing  their  ancestry  and  simply  remembering  that 
all  the  early  strains  were  subject  to  the  process  of  amalgamation 
sooner  or  later,  and  mostly  sooner,  we  can  most  readily  account 
for  the  prevailing  color  defects.  For  every  breeder,  no  matter 
how  well  satisfied  with  his  strain,  very  soon  recognizes  the  good 
(pialities  of  others,  and  as  quickly  as  he  discovers  a  weakness 

PLATE  62 


EXTENDED  WING  OF  BUFF  T'LYMOUTH  ROCK  MALE 


Clear,  even   sliade   of  huff,  with   excoptioi 
in  front  row  of  feathers  on  wing-  bar. 


of  darker  shade   sliowing 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK 


229 


in  his  own  flock  acquires  in  some  way  the  blood  of  another  that 
possesses  the  quality  in  which  his  strain  is  deficient ;  so  the  blood 
of  all  meritorious  strains  is  quickly  passed  around  and  it  is  well 
it  is  so,  because  then  the  variety  acquires  something  of  uni- 
formity. 

Stock  that  showed  black  in  tails  and  wings  would  naturally 
follow  from  the  same  ancestry  that  developed  the  Rhode  Island 
Reds  (The  Fall  River  Buff  Rocks).  Flecking  and  white  in  the 
wing  and  undercolor  from  Light  Brahma.  (Wilson  strain).  The 
same  defect  would  be  expected  from  stock  that  contained  the 
White  Plymouth  Rock  blood,  and  the  white  blood  of  both  strains 
would  account  for  light  undercolor  and  unevenness  of  surface. 


PLATE  63 


BUFF  PLYMOUTH  EOCKS 


Half  tone  from  ]>hotograph  of  tail  of  Buff  Plymouth  Kock  cock 
(winner  of  first  at  Madison  Square  Garden,  New  York,  show),  show- 
ing smaller  sickle  and  larger  tail  covert  marked  with  chestnut  color,  a 
not  uncommon  blemish  in  fine  buff  colored  males.  This  color  is  very 
much   less   defective   in   buff  varieties  than  gray,  black  or  white. 


230  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATIOy 


PLATE  64 


BUFF     PLYMOUTH    ROCK    TAIL    PROPEE    AND    TAIL    COVERT, 
MALE 

Ideal  color,  even  shade   of  buff  throughout. 

1.  Tail  proper. 

2.  Upper  tail  proper. 

3.  Tail  covert. 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  231 

Silver-gray,  which  appears  in  the  tail,  would  seem  to  be  an  ad- 
mixture of  a  little  black  with  considerable  white,  or,  perhaps, 
some  buff,  comparable  perhaps  to  the  production  of  blue  plum- 
age sometimes,  sometimes  a  black  and  a  white  mottled  plumage 
by  the  crossing  of  white  and  black  birds.  The  Buff  Cochin  is  the 
source  from  which  all  buff  varieties  obtained  their  color  and  to 
the  color  defects  inherited  from  other  varieties  that  were  not 
buff  used  in  creating  the  Buff  Plymouth  Rocks  must  be  added 
the  defects  of  the  Buff  Cochins,  employed  in  the  various  crosses. 


CHAPTER  III. 

MATING  TO  PRODUCE  BUFF  PLUMAGE 

Buff'  is  classed  as  one  of  the  solid  colors,  to  produce  which 
breeders  seldom  employ  more  than  one  mating.  In  the  earlier 
history  of  this  variety,  perhaps  fifteen  years  or  more  ago,  double 
mating  was  practiced. 

Early  System  of  Mating. — We  find  in  the  early  treatises  on 
breeding  buff  varieties  that  advice  as  to  how  to  double  mate  for 
buff  color  conforms  closely  to  our  ideas  of  double  mating  today. 
Nowadays,  little  double  mating  is  done  to  produce  buff  or  any 
solid  color.  Double  mating  for  buff  was  excusable  and  perhaps 
advisable  in  those  days,  because  of  the  unsettled  condition  of  the 
buff  variety,  their  composite  character  and  short  existence,  to 
overcome  several  glaring  faults,  such  as  dark  neck,  dark  or  red 
shoulders,  black  in  tails  and  black  in  wings,  wings  and  tails  in 
which  white  was  prominent,  a  wide  difference  in  color  of  top  and 
lower  sections,  and  also  a  wide  difference  in  color  of  males  and 
females.  The  early  breeders  had  to  contend  with  these  and  other 
faults  and  to  breed  them  out ;  and  then  undercolor  was  more  im- 
portant in  the  eyes  of  the  judge  and  breeder  than  now.  Is  it  any 
wonder  that  these  early  breeders  adopted  the  quick  method  of 
correcting  one  defect  by  using  its  antidote — a  defect  of  opposite 
character  to  counteract  it,  and  of  trying  to  correct  in  one  sex  at 
a  time ;  as,  for  instance,  attempting  to  produce  sound  surface 
and  strong  undercolor  on  the  females  by  breeding  males  alto- 
gether too  strong  in  color,  especially  in  the  shoulders  and  back  ? 
Such  males  were  even  then  useless  as  show  birds  because  of 
these  dark  or  red  sections  and  the  unevenness  of  the  color  of 


232  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

their  plumage.  The  early  breeders  did  succeed,  and  admirably, 
in  improving  color  and  this  improvement  removed  the  necessity 
of  double  mating. 

At  present  and  for  some  time  back,  the  very  best  standard 
Buff  Plymouth  Rocks  have  been  produced  by  the  single  mating 
system,  which  has  been  described  heretofore  as  the  mating 
together  of  as  nearly  standard  colored  specimens  of  both  sexes 
as  could  be  procured.  A  male  of  ideal  color  would  make  the 
ideal  mate  of  a  female  of  ideal  color,  in  the  opinion  of  those 
breeders  who  believe  in  this  system,  while  others  on  account  of 


PLATE  6.5 


BUFF  PLYMOUTH  EOCK 

Two    hackles,   two    back   and   two    saddle    feathers    showin| 
even  shade  of  buff  throughout  surface  and  undercolor. 


PLYMOITH  ROCK  STAXDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  233 

the  tendency  of  bufif  to  lose  color,  would  prefer  that  one  sex  or 
the  other  in  any  mating  should  be  a  shade  or  two  darker  or 
richer  than  that  which  is  regarded  as  ideal  or  standard.  Un- 
doubtedly, if  standard-colored  specimens  were  backed  with  a 
sufficiently  long  ancestry  of  like  characteristics,  standard-colored 
specimens  of  both  sexes  would  together  form  ideal  matings. 

A  Composite  Variety. — But  as  related  in  a  previous  chapter, 
the  Buff  Plymouth  Rocks,  as  well  as  most  of  our  buff  fowls,  are 
composites  of  different  breeds,  varieties  and  strains,  obviously 
of  birds  of  dift'erent  types  and  colors.  Though  type  is  once 
established,  as  it  is  recognized  to  be  in  degree,  yet  color  remains 
to  be  established,  and  if  that,  too,  is  established  in  degree  also, 
both  must  be  maintained  and  furthermore  perfected.  The  trea- 
tise on  type  has,  however,  preceded  this  chapter,  and  we  may 
deal  now  with  color  alone,  which,  from  its  composite  origin,  in- 
herits favilty  tendencies  to  overcome  and  offset  which  becomes 
the  special  problem  of  the  breeder. 

To  Hold  Color. — (Jne  of  the  tendencies  of  buff  color  is  to 
become  too  light  cr  "faded  out,"  as  it  is  often  expressed  by 
breeders  cf  buff  varieties,  a  tendency  that  we  readily  understand 
after   a   stiulv   of   the    ancestry   of   the   varietv.     To   offset   this 


PLATE  66 


BUFF  PLYMOUTH  ROCK  FEMALE 

Back  and  breast  feathers.     Illustrating  the  breeding  value   of  rich 
buff-colored  quill,  though  undercolor  may  be  very  pale  buff. 


234 


AMERK'.W   I'OlLTRy  ASSOClAriOX 


PLATE  67 


BUFF    PLYMOUTH   EOCK   COLOR    DEFECTS,    COMMON    IN    WING 
PRIMARIES  OF  MALE  OR  FEMALE 


1.  Black  or  brownish  black,  shading  to  large  portion  of  bufif,  pep- 
pered with  dark  spots  where  black  and  buff  meet. 

2.  Largely  black  at  base  and  along  the  quill,  remainder  buff. 

3.  Buff,   with   considerable    black,   shading  to   gray,   with   white   at 

ain  portion 


end. 

4.     Root  of  feather  white  and  web  next  to  root  white 
of  webb  buff,  with  white  at  end. 


Ideal,  clear  buff. 


PLYMOTTH  ROCK  f<TAynARn  A^D  BREED  BOOK 


PLATE  68 


BUFF  PLYMOUTH  KOCK  COLOR  DEFECTS  COMMON  IN 
WING  SECONDARIES  OF  MALE  OR  FEMALE 

1.  Bliic'k  or  brownish   black,  shading  to   large  portion   of  buff,  pep- 
jiercd   with   dark  spots  where  black  and  buff  meet. 

2.  Largely  black  at  base  and  along  quill,  remainder  buff. 

3.  Buff  with  considerable  black,  shading  to  gray,  with  white  at  end. 

4.  Root    of   feather   and   web    next    to   root   white,   main   portion    of 
webb  buff,  with  white  at  end. 


5.    Ideal,  clear  buff. 


236 


AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 


mi 

^   O"- 


Jig  g-js 


O  CJ3 

o  «  o 


PLYMOrrH  ROCK  STAyOARB  AND  BREED  BOOK  237 


238  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

tendency  to  lose  color,  breeders  often,  as  stated,  select  specimens 
for  one  sex  in  the  mating  that  are  a  little  richer  or  stronger  in 
color  than  that  described  by  the  Standard.  Breeders  do  not  find 
it  advisable,  however,  to  go  too  far  in  this  direction.  Faults  and 
tendencies  to  faults  must  be  corrected,  but  not  over-corrected. 
The  latter  is  as  liable  to  occur  as  is  the  former. 

To  Maintain  Evenness. — Many  faults  of  the  progeny  in  color 
are  attributed  to  too  wide  a  variation  in  color  of  the  parents. 
Specimens  of  extremes  of  buff  color  mated  together  seldom  pro- 
duce a  mean.  The  progeny  are  mostly  extremes  and  seldom  are 
they  sound,  even  colored  specimens  at  that ;  patches  of  dark  and 
light  buff  are  often  found  on  the  same  specimens.  Mealiness  and 
light  or  dark  edgings  are  attributed  to  the  mating  of  extremes 
in  buff  shades.  Shaftings  in  the  plumage  of  one  or  both  sexes 
in  the  mating  is  due  to  weak  undercolor  of  the  quill.  By  reading 
the  preceding  chapter,  the  undesirability  of  these  characteristics 
will  be  clearly  understood. 

Black  in  Tails  and  Wings. — Other  expediencies  are  occasion- 
ally resorted  to  to  be  hold  to  the  desired  shade  of  color.  The 
impression  that  the  strength  of  color  may  be  preserved  by  breed- 
ing males  or  females  that  show  black  in  tail  and  perhaps  in 
wings  has  been  a  common  one.  On  this  point,  one  writer^  takes 
the  view  that  buff  is  largely  yellow  modified  slightly  by  red  and 
white,  and  that  black  is  nowise  a  component  of  buff;  that  in 
choosing  one  of  two  evils,  black  or  white,  the  latter  is  to  be 
chosen  without  hesitation.  Among  the  faults  caused  by  breeding 
from  specimens  that  show  black  are  lacing  or  ticking  in  necks, 
black  in  tails,  black  in  wings,  smutty  undercolor  and  a  muddy 
surface  color,  and  it  will  not  counteract  white,  according  to  this 
writer,  who  further  states  "you  will  get  plenty  of  red  and  white 
without  breeding  for  them,"  but  that  either  red  or  white  are 
much  more  readily  bred  out  than  black.  In  closing,  this  breeder 
gives  this  advise :  "Remember,  yellow  and  black  will  not  mix 
and  produce  a  pleasing  color,  while  yellow,  red  and  white  will 
mix  and  give  you  that  beautiful  shade  called  buff."  This  view 
has  since  been  taken  by  other  writers  of  experience  in  breeding 
buff  varieties.2 


1.  W.  W.  Browning,  book,  R.  P.  J.,   The  Wyandotte. 

2.  M.   F.   Delano,   The   Orpington,   R.   P.   J.     A.   O.   SchUling,   A.   P.   W. 
for  January,  1913. 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  239 

Some,  of  course,  differ  or  have  differed  with  this  writer,  and 
while  both  opinions  are  held,  it  is  admitted  by  all  that  black  is 
difficult  to  breed  out  and  keep  out.  As  for  white  in  wings  and 
tail,  the  same  may  be  said,  though  the  amount  of  white  can  be 
perceptibly  reduced  from  one  generation  to  another  by  selection. 

The  correct  shade  and  evenness  of  color  are  qualities  of  most 
importance  in  breeding  birds  of  both  sexes.  Of  the  two,  even- 
ness, if  the  color  is  not  too  far  removed  from  the  desired  shade, 
is  perhaps  the  most  important,  because  when  persistently  selected 
for  generations,  this  quality  will  correct  such  faults  as  mealiness, 
shaftiness,  light  edging,  and  finally  will  influence  the  color  of 
main  tail  feathers  and  the  flights  and  secondaries.  When  select- 
ing specimens  for  evenness  of  color,  all  sections  should  match. 
Such  a  specimen  is  hard  to  find.  The  neck  may  be  lighter  or 
darker  than  the  other  sections,  and  the  breast,  body  and  fluff 
are  often  lighter  than  back,  wing  and  tail.  We  desire,  first,  uni- 
formity in  the  shade  of  all  sections  of  the  specimen,  and  then, 
if  the  specimen  be  of  the  desired  shade,  it  is  desired  that  the  gen- 
eral shade  of  the  female  should  match  the  breast,  body  and  fluff 
of  the  male. 

Black  in  tail  or  wings  may  be  bred  out  in  time.  The  breeder 
should  not  expect  to  eliminate  any  great  amount  of  this  strong 
colored  pigment  in  one  generation.  This  is  often  attempted. 
There  is  a  general  impression  that  black  may  be  offset  with 
white.  This  is,  perhaps,  true  but  in  a  comparatively  small  num- 
ber of  the  progeny  of  matings  in  which  this  expediency  was  re- 
sorted to.  By  mating  birds  with  black  in  plumage  to  those  with 
white  in  corresponding  sections,  blood  that  has  a  tendency  to 
produce  black  is  mingled  with  blood  that  has  a  tendency  to  pro- 
duce white,  and  the  result  is  blood  that  has  a  strong  tendency  to 
produce  both  black  and  white  in  the  plumage ;  black  in  some, 
white  in  some,  and  both  black  and  white  in  others. 

The  breeding  out  of  white  involves  the  same  principle.  It 
should  not  be  offset  in  matings  by  using  specimens  of  the  oppo- 
site sex  that  have  black  in  the  plumag'e.  A  safe  rule  and  one 
that  produces  the  most  pure  buff  plumage  in  the  individual  and 
the  most  buff  in  individuals  of  number,  is  to  offset  either  black 
or  white  by  selecting  for  the  breeding  specimens  of  each  suc- 
cessive generation  those  in  which  these  undersirable  colors  are 
not  present,  or  those  with  as  little  of  either  as  possible. 


240  AMEliWAN  POVl/rRY  AS^'^OCIATION 

1  PLATE  71  2 


11 

1 

V  V 

■ 

p  ^ 

1 

I 

2 

K  - . 

i 

■ 

1^ .  > 

4P 

a 

1 

^^^^^   ''"'  ^^^^^1 

1 

^^Hl  / ''   ^M 

1 

^M 

I 

u 

1 

ILLUSTRATING  FOUR  MODERN  BUFF  PLYMOUTH  ROCK 

FEMALES 
1,   3.     Winners   at  Chicago    (Fanciers'   Show).     2.     Winner   at   New 
York   (Palace).     4.     Winner  at  New  York   (Garden). 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  241 

1  PLATE  72  2 


3  4 

ILLUSTRATING   FOUR   PERIODS  IN   PROGRESS  OF   BUFF 

PLYMOUTH  ROCK  MALES 
1,   2,   4.     Winners   at   New  York    (Garden).      ?>.     Winner   at   Chicago 
(Fanciers'  Show). 


242  AMERICAN  POJU.TRY  Af<SOCIArJON 

CHAPTER  IV. 

MATINGS 

/ 
To  summarize  from  the  foregoing,  the  best  mating  for  color 
viewed  in  the  light  of  the  most  modern  thought  would  be  the  one 
that  included  the  best  colored  specimens,  that  is,  those  that  have 
the  required  standard  shade  of  buff,  the  most  even  from  head  to 
hock  and  tip  of  tail.  This  description  implies  absolute  absence 
of  black,  white  or  any  foreign  color,  and  of  mealiness  and  shafti- 
ness  as  well. 

This  is  practically  the  method  of  mating  that  the  best  breed- 
ers employ  at  the  present  time,  but  it  is  subject  to  one  modifica- 
tion, which  some  breeders  use  to  protect  themselves  against  loss 
of  color.  To  hold  to  the  rich,  golden  shade  and  to  prevent  a 
relapse  to  lemon,  cream  and  other  undesirable  shades  formerly 
common,  breeders  use  matings  in  which  the  male  is  one  or  per- 
haps two  slight  shades  richer  than  what  is  generally  consid. 
ered  "rich,  golden  buff."  Sometimes  the  strength  of  color  is 
maintained  by  the  matings  first  described  with  standard  buft" 
males  and  females  for  the  greater  number,  and  a  lesser  number 
of  females  that  are  a  shade  or  possibly  two  shades  richer  than 
standard  buff.  For  evenness  of  color  and  other  requisites,  such 
females  must  be  fully  as  desirable  as  standard  specimens. 

Specimens  that  approach  the  cinnamon  shades  or  those  that 
are  muddy  or  brown  to  the  slightest  degree  are  not  tolerated  in 
the  matings  by  any  recognized  breeder  of  the  highest  class. 

Undercolor  is  secondary  to  surface  color  in  buff  varieties, 
and  while  quite  perceptibly  lighter  than  the  latter,  some  strength 
is  demanded  in  all  specimens  that  are  selected  for  breeding  birds. 
The  quill  particularly  is  required  to  be  buff  to  the  skin  and  as 
near  in  shade  to  the  surface  color  as  it  is  possible  to  select,  other 
things  being  equal.  By  breeding  from  such  specimens,  shafti- 
ness  is  eliminated  or  reduced  to  the  minimum. 

These  methods  of  breeding  are  comparal)le  with  the  principle 
of  single  or  standard  matings,  and  it  is  from  such  that  the  best 
Buff  Plymouth  Rocks  of  today  are  produced. 


SECTION     V. 

CHAPTER  I. 
SILVER-PENCILED  PLYMOUTH  ROCKS 

THE    ORIGIN    AND    EARLY    DEVELOPMENT 

THE  first  Silver-Penciled  Plymouth  Rocks  came  from  the 
Cornell  line  of  penciled  fowls.  While  that  gentleman  was 
developing  a  Silver-Penciled  Wyandotte,  both  Mr.  Cornell 
and  Mr.  Shey,  who  had  charge  of  \'alleyview  Farm  at  Ithaca, 
New  York,  sent  to  Elmwood  Farm  single  comb  specimens  from 
their  flocks.  These  were  mated  by  George  B.  Randolph,  the 
owner  of  Elmwood  Farm,  with  some  single-comb  specimens  of 
the  same  strain  that  he  had  hatched  and  reared  at  Elmwood. 

It  was  in  the  year  of  1894  that  Mr.  Ezra  Cornell  of  Ithaca. 
New  York,  became  interested  with  Mr.  George  H.  Brackenbury 
of  Auburn,  New  York,  in  producing  a  Silver-Penciled  Wyan- 
dotte. Mr.  Brackenbury  had,  prior  to  this,  made  a  cross  of  a 
Golden-Penciled  (Partridge)  Wyandotte  male  with  a  Dark 
Brahma  hen.  Mr.  Cornell  selected  a  Silver-Laced  Wyandotte 
male,  which  he  mated  with  a  Silver-Penciled  Hamburg  female. 
He  also  mated  a  Dark  Brahma  hen  of  the  Newton  Adams  strain 
with  this  Silver-Laced  Wyandotte  male.  Some  of  the  pullets 
from  both  of  these  hens  were  mated  to  the  Silver-Laced  Wyan- 
dotte male  and  other  pullets  from  the  same  hens  and  to  some  of 
the  progeny  produced  by  Mr.  Brackenbury  from  his  mating  of 
the  Golden-Penciled  male  with  the  Dark  Brahma  female. 

Then  Mr.  Cornell  gave  some  of  the  progeny  from  these 
matings  to  Elmwood  Farm,  Weston.  New  Jersey,  from  which 
was  bred  the  Silver-Penciled  Wyandotte  female  illustrated  by 
Mr.  Sewell  in  the  American  Poultry  Journal  and  in  the  Reliable 
Poultry  Journal  of  January,  1902.  This  female  shows  plainly 
the  Brahma  shape.  Some  of  the  pullets  from  the  same  lot  of 
fowls  had  single  combs.  Mr.  Cornell  and  later  Mr.  Wyckoff, 
through  Dennis  Shey,  sent  a  single-comb  male  and  two  single- 
comb  females  from  their  flock  to  Elmwood  Farm.     These,  with 

243 


244  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

eight  or  ten  others,  were  turned  out  at  free  range  ®n  the  farm 
and  for  three  years  were  bred  under  these  conditions.  The  poor- 
est of  those  produced  each  year  were  culled  out  and  sold  to  mar- 
ket, until  finally  there  were  ten  or  twelve  females  and  one  male 
that  were  good  enough  in  shape  to  be  called  Plymouth  Rocks. 
The  females  were  beautifully  penciled  and  had  backs  and  tails 
that  were  typical  of  the  Plymouth  Rocks.  This  flock  and  their 
offspring  were  sold  to  James  Forsyth  of  Oswego,  New  York, 
and  by  him  to  Mr.  F.  F.  Corey  of  ( )ssining,  New  York. 

Another  strain  of  Silver-Penciled  Plymouth  Rocks  was  made 
by  the  mingling  of  Dark  Brahmas.  Silver-Grey  Dorkings  and 
Mottled  Javas.  It  was  asserted  at  this  time  that  this  was  the 
only  true  strain  of  Penciled  Plymouth  Rocks,  but  just  why  any 
one  should  claim  that  a  mixture  of  this  kind  had  or  could  pro- 
duce true  Plymouth  Rock  is  far  from  clear.  The  claim  is  made 
ridiculous  by  the  fact  that  the  strain  created  in  this  way  used 
some  of  the  original  Elmwood  stock  in  its  make-vip,  as  many  of 
the  Penciled  Plymouth  Rocks  from  Elmwood  Farm  went  to 
breeders  of  the  Brahma-Dorking-Java  strain. 

The  best  of  all  the  Silver-Penciled  Plymouth  Rocks  can  be 
traced  to  the  Dark  Brahma  females  supplied  by  Newton  Adams. 
Many  of  the  best  females  of  this  variety  now  have  very  much 
the  same  shape  as  the  Brahma  female  ancestors.  The  hens  used 
were  rich  in  color,  beautifully  penciled  and  fairly  close  feathered. 
Indeed,  as  compared  with  the  Light  Brahmas  of  today  they  were 
closely  feathered.  The  question  of  egg  production  and  the  size 
of  the  egg  produced  has  been  used  as  proof  for  or  against  the 
quality  of  the  fowls.  The  originals  of  this  variety  that  were 
sold  from  Elmwood  Farm  to  James  Forsyth  were  of  good  size ; 
they  had  fairly  good  Plymouth  Rock  shape ;  they  had  good  color 
and  markings  ;  they  were  prolific  layers  ;  and  their  eggs  averaged 
more  than  two  ounces  each.    (T.  F.  McG.) 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  245 

CHAPTER  II. 

SILVER.PENCILED  PLYMOUTH  ROCK 
PLUMAGE 

STANDARD    DESCRIPTION 

Disqualifications 

Shanks  and  toes  other  than  yellow  or  dusky  yellow.  (See 
general  and  Plymouth  Rock  disqualifications.) 

COLOR   OF   MALE 

Head. — Plumage,  silvery  white. 

Beak. — Yellow  or  dusky  yellow. 

Eyes. — Reddish-bay. 

Comb,  Face,  Wattles  and  Ear-Lobes. — Bright  red. 

Neck.— Hackle,  web  of  feather,  solid,  lustrous  greenish-black, 
with  a  narrow  edging  of  silvery  white,  uniform  in  width,  extend- 
ing around  point  of  feather ;  shafts,  black ;  plumage  in  front  of 
hackle,  black. 

Wings. — Bows,  silvery  white ;  coverts,  lustrous  greenish- 
black,  forming  a  well-defined  bar  of  this  color  across  wings  when 
folded ;  primaries,  black  except  a  narrow  edging  of  white  on 
lower  edge  of  lower  webs ;  secondaries,  black,  except  lower  half 
of  lower  webs  which  should  be  white,  except  near  end  of  feathers 
at  which  points  the  white  terminates  abruptly,  leaving  end  of 
feathers  black. 

Back. — Silvery  white,  free  from  brown ;  saddle,  silvery  white, 
with  a  black  stripe  in  each  feather,  tapering  to  a  point  near  its 
lower  extremity. 

Tail. — Black ;  sickles  and  coverts,  lustrous  greenish-black  ; 
smaller  coverts,  lustrous  greenish-black  edged  with  white. 

Breast. — Black. 

Body  and  Fluff.— Body,  black;  fluff,  black  slightly  tinged 
with  gray. 

Legs  and  Toes. — Thighs,  black ;  shanks  and  toes,  yellow  or 
dusky  yellow. 

Under-Color  of  All  Sections. — Slate. 

COLOR    OF    FEMALE 

Head. — Plumage,  silvery  gray. 
Beak. — Yellow  or  dusky  yellow. 
Eyes. — Reddish-bay. 


240 


AMERICAN   I'OULTRY  ASfiQCrATION 


PLATE 


SILVp]R-PKNCILEr)    PLYMOUTH    ROCK   MALE 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  247 


PLATE  74 


Sll.\  I  i;  l'i;\('ILEP  PLYMOUTH  EOCK  i' KM  ALL 


248  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

Comb,  Face,  Wattles  and  Ear-Lobes. — Bright  red. 

Neck. — Silvery  white ;  center  portion  of  feathers,  black 
slightly  penciled  with  gray ;  feathers  in  front  of  neck,  same  as 
breast. 

Wings. — Shoulders,  bows  and  coverts,  gray  with  distinct 
dark  pencilings,  outlines  of  which  conform  to  shape  of  feathers  ; 
primaries,  black  with  narrow  edge  of  gray  penciling  on  lower 
webs  •  secondaries,  upper  webs,  black ;  lower  webs,  gray  with  dis- 
tinct dark  pencilings  extending  around  outer  edge  of  feathers. 

Back. — Gray,  with  distinct  dark  pencilings,  outlines  of  which 
conform  to  shape  of  feather ;  feathers,  free  from  white  shafting. 

Tail. — Black,  except  the  two  top  feathers,  which  are  penciled 
on  upper  edge ;  coverts,  gray,  with  distinct  dark  pencilings,  out- 
lines of  which  conform  to  shape  of  feather. 

Breast. — (jray,  with  distinct  dark  pencilings,  outlines  of 
which  conform  to  shape  of  feather. 

Body  and  Fluff. — Body,  gray,  with  distinct  dark  pencilings, 
reaching  well  down  on  thighs  ;  fluff,  gray,  penciled  with  a  darker 
shade. 

Legs  and  Toes. — Thighs,  gray,  with  distinct  pencilings ; 
shanks  and  toes,  yellow  or  dusky  yellow. 

Under-color  of  All  Sections. — Slate. 

Note. — Each  feather  in  back,  breast,  body,  wing-bows  and 
thighs  to  have  three  or  more  distinct  pencilings. 


CHAPTER  III. 

DESCRIPTION    OF    PLUMAGE 

The  Silver-Penciled  Plymouth  Rock  should  have  the  same 
size,  shape  and  body  proportions  as  other  Plymouth  Rocks,  and 
the  same  color  and  markings  as  the  IDark  Brahma. 

The  combination  of  silvery  white  and  black  in  the  male  and 
silvery  white,  gray  and  black  in  the  female  is  pleasant  to  the 
eye.  When  of  fine  quality  there  is  no  other  fowl  more  beautiful 
when  at  her  best  and  when  shown  in  perfect  condition. 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  ^STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  240 

PLATE  75 


FEMALE,    WTNG    FEATHERS    FROM    WELL    MARKED 
SPECIMENS 


Male:      1. 
Female:     ;'.. 


Primal 
Prim 


Secondary. 
Secondary. 


THE    MALE 

The  silvery  white  top  color  of  the  male  forms  a  covering  for 

the  black  in  breast  and  underlying  colors.     The  lower  edge  line 

of  the  silvery  white  extends  to  the  point  of  the  breast  and  follows 

the  fold  of  the  wing-bow  back  to  the  extreme  point  of  the  wing 


250  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

which,  when  properly  folded,  is  hidden  beneath  the  lower  line 
of  the  saddle  plumage  and  the  plumage  of  the  upper  part  of  the 
abdomen.  This  top  color  should  be  clear  silvery  white,  that  is, 
striped  in  hackle  and  in  saddle  with  lustrous  black.  The  word- 
ing of  the  Standard  is :  "Head  plumage,  silvery  white  ;  hackle, 
solid  lustrous  greenish-black  with  a  narrow  edge  of  silvery 
white,  uniform  in  width,  extending  around  point  of  feather; 
plumage  in  front  of  the  hackle,  black  ;  shank  and  toe,  yellow  or 
dusky  yellow." 

Hackle. — In  plainer  language,  this  means  that  the  hackle 
feathers  and  the  saddle  feathers  of  the  male  shall  have  a  black 
stripe  extending  almost  to  the  point  of  the  feather ;  this  black 
should  be  completely  surrounded  with  silvery  white.  "Plumage 
in  front  of  hackle,  black,"  means  that  if  you  part  the  hackle  in 
the  center  below  the  beak,  you  will  find  that  the  black  feathers 
of  the  breast  extend  up  to  the  throat ;  thus  the  plumage  in  front 
of  the  hackle  is  black. 

Wings. — The  bows  of  the  wings  are  silvery  white.  The  wing- 
coverts  are  lustrous.  greenish-l:)lack.  forming  a  well-defined  bar 
of  black  across  the  folded  wing.  The  primaries  of  the  wing  are 
black  with  a  narrow  edge  of  white  on  the  lower  edge  of  the  lower 
web  of  the  feather.  The  secondaries  of  the  wing  are  black,  ex- 
cepting the  lower  half,  which  should  be  white.  The  ends  of  these 
feathers  are  black.     See  illustration.  Plate  75. 

Back  and  Saddle. — The  back,  from  beneath  the  hackle  and 
almost  to  the  end  of  the  saddle,  is  silvery  white.  The  striped 
feathers  of  the  saddle  extend  up  and  over  the  sickle  feathers,  the 
silvery  white  plumage  of  the  back  merging  into  these  striped 
feathers. 

Tail. — The  main  tail  feathers  are  black,  and  the  sickles  and 
tail-coverts  are  black  emblazoned  with  a  lustrous  greenish  sheen. 
This  sheen  must  have  a  greenish-black  and  not  a  purplish  shade, 
which  is  most  undesirable. 

Breast. — The  breast,  the  body,  the  underbody  plumage  about 
the  thighs  and  the  fluff  are  black  ;  the  latter  may  be  slightly 
tinged  with  gray. 

Undercolor. — Undercolor  in  all  sections  should  be  slate.  The 
same  shade  of  undercolor  is  desirable  in  the  females  for  breeding. 

Toes. — Shanks  and  toes  are  vellow  or  duskv  vellow. 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  251 

THE   FEMALE 

The  best  quality  of  female  must  have  an  even  shade  of  gray 
throughout.  Each  feather  of  back,  wing-bow  and  coverts,  tail- 
coverts,  breast  and  body,  should  be  penciled  with  a  darker  shade, 
which  is  described  as  dark  penciling ;  it  should  not  be  black, 
because  this  destroys  the  even  shade  of  gray  so  desirable  in  the 
plumage  of  the  female  of  this  variety.  The  Standard  requires 
gray,  with  distinct  dark  pencilings,  outlines  of  which  conform 
to  shape  of  feather ;  the  feathers  should  be  free  from  white  shaft- 
ing. This  would  indicate  that  the  female  should  be  of  a  gray 
shade,  penciled  with  a  darker  shade  deep  enough  in  color  to 
show  the  outlines  distinctly,  and  these  outlines  must  conform  to 
the  shape  of  the  feather.  The  breast  of  the  female,  while 
usually  somewhat  lighter  in  shade  just  below  the  throat,  should 
deepen  into  the  same  shade  of  color  down  under  the  body  and 
between  the  thighs.  While  the  fluff  is  gray  penciled  with  a 
darker  shade  in  some  specimens,  the  shade  is  with  most  speci- 
mens lighter  than  in  the  body  plumage. 

The  penciling  of  the  feathers  of  the  breast  and  body,  the 
wing-bows,  and  the  thighs  should  have  at  least  three  distinct 
rows.  Some  of  the  feathers  on  some  specimens  have  even  more 
than  this.     For  illustrations,  see  Plates  76,  77,  78. 

The  Neck. — The  neck  plumage  should  be  silvery  white ;  the 
center  portion  of  each  feather  black,  slightly  penciled  with  gray ; 
the  feathers  in  front  of  the  neck  like  those  on  the  breast.  The 
black  centers  of  the  neck  feathers  should  be  almost  as  large  as 
the  feather  and  edged  with  silvery  white.  The  neck  plumage  of 
the  finest  females  are  frequently  penciled  almost  as  distinctly  as 
are  the  feathers  of  the  back.    See  illustration,  Plate  80,  Page  257. 

Wings. — Besides  the  shoulders,  bows  and  coverts,  the  color 
and  markings  of  which  conform  with  those  of  breast  and  back 
and  have  already  been  described,  the  primaries  and  secondaries 
should  be  considered.  When  commendable,  primaries  are  black 
with  a  narrow  but  distinct  single  line  of  gray  on  the  edge  of  the 
lower  web.  A  correctly  marked  female  flight  feather  is  shown  in 
Plate  79.  The  outer  web  of  each  of  the  longer  secondaries  should 
be  penciled  with  gray  in  lines  which  run  parallel  with  the  lower 
or  outer  edge  of  the  feather.  The  shorter  ones,  or  those  nearest 
the  body,  should  be  penciled  on  that  portion  of  the  feather  that 


252 


AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 


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PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STAyOARD  A^D  BREED  BOOK 


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AMERICAX  POULTRY  ASSiOCIATION 


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PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  255 

is  exposed  to  view  when  held  in  its  natural  position  or,  in  other 
words,  on  the  surface.  Plate  79  shows  an  illustration  of  one  of 
the  longer  secondaries. 

Shank   and    Toes. — Shanks    and    toes    are   yellow    or    dusky 
yellow. 

The  best  surface  color  in  females  and  the  best  markings  are 
associated  with  a  lighter  shade  of  undercolor.    (T.  F.  McG.) 


CHAPTER  IV. 

MATING    SILVER-PENCILED    PLYMOUTH    ROCKS 

It  should  be  well  understood  that  the  first  step  for  breeding 
this  variety  must  be  the  selection  for  proper  size,  shape,  and 
general  requirements  for  the  breed. 

But,  in  addition  to  this,  color  must  have  more  than  ordinary 
consideration.  There  are  two  systems  practiced  in  the  breeding 
of  Dark  Brahmas,  and  the  same  may  be  followed  in  the  breeding 
of  this  variety  of  Plymouth  Rocks  which  corresponds  with  the 
former  in  plumage.  It  is  needless  to  say  more  than  has  been 
said  under  these  subjects  in  Part  II  on  line-breeding,  in-breeding 
and  double-mating,  or  on  the  general  laws  of  breeding.  These 
three  methods  of  single,  intermediate  and  double  mating  seem 
open  to  breeders  of  this  variety  with  good  promise  of  success. 

Single  Mating. — The  simplest  and  perhaps  the  best  plan  to 
follow  is  to  mate  together  continually,  year  after  year,  the  very 
best  show  specimens  that  are  produced  in  each  flock. 

Two  Female  Color  Types. — A  system  of  double  mating  can 
be  practiced  in  one  pen  of  fowls  by  having  a  male  that  possesses 
show  qualities  to  a  marked  degree  mated  with  three  or  more 
females  that  are  perfect  or  nearly  perfect,  according  to  the 
Standard  description  for  the  female  of  this  variety,  while  in  this 
same  pen  can  be  kept  one  hen  or  more  for  the  purpose  of  pro- 
ducing exhibition  males.  This  hen  must  be  a  direct  descendant 
for  at  least  two  years,  and  if  for  longer  she  is  much  better  for  the 
purpose,  from  a  cockerel  breeding  line ;  that  is,  by  knowing 
the  male  and  females  that  produce  each  specimen  you  can  select 
the  hen  that  produces  the  best  cockerel  and  mate  her  or  her  off- 
spring year  by  year  with  the  best  male  that  is  produced  from  the 
female  line  referred  to  in  Part  II  as  the  Intermediate  Mating. 


256 


AMERlCAy    FOT'LTRY  A.^SIOCIATION 


Double  Mating. — For  extreme  double  mating,  select  the  hens 
that  have  produced  the  best  exhibition  males  and  mate  them  with 
the  best  exhibition  males  that  you  have  or  that  you  can  secure. 
Toe-mark  all  the  chicks  from  this  mating  and  from  them  estab- 
lish a  cockerel  breeding  line;  keep  them  separate  and  apart  and 
use  them  only  for  producing  male  birds  for  the  exhibition.  This 
line  should  be  as  carefully  separated  as  are  the  matings  to  pro- 
duce cockerels  in  the  Barred  variety. 

PLATE  7<i 


SILVER-PENCILED   PLYMOUTH   ROCKS,   FEATHERS  OF 
FEMALES 


1.     Wing  primary.      2.     Wing   secondary.     .''..     Lower  main  tail. 

4.     Upper  main  tail.     5.     Top  tail   feather 

(Best  obtainable.) 


I'LYMOI  'I'll  HOCK  S'l'AXnAh'n  AM)  li RIJl-JI)  fiOOK  257 

To  produce  females  of  the  most  beautiful  color  and  markings, 
the  best  hens  should  be  mated  with  a  male  descendant  from  an 
exhibition  female.  The  offspring  from  this  mating  should  be 
kept  separate  and  be  mated  together  continually  year  after  year ; 
the  best  females  so  obtained  should  be  mated  with  the  best  males 
that  are  produced  from  this  same  line  of  l)reeding. 

PLATE  80 


SILVER-PENCILED    PLYMOUTH    ROCKS 
NECK  FEATHERS  OF  FEMALES 


vSolid,   for   prodiK 
bitiou   males. 


ig-  best  exhi- 


1,  2.    Solid    bhu'k    stri 
colored  hackles  on  males. 


Penciled,  as  seen  on  females, 
for  ]iroducing'  females  with  best 
])encil('d   bodv   sections. 


necessary   to    prodnce    Standard   exhibition 


;'..  4.  Penciled  stripe,  as  found  on  females  possessing  the  finest 
jienciling  over  breast,  back,  wing  and  body  sections,  necessary  to  pro- 
duce  tlie    best   exhibition   colored   females. 


Note: — This  section,  neck,  presents  the  most  marked  variance  in 
plumage  of  the  females  of  the  cockerel-breeding  and  pullet-breeding 
lines.  A  solid  black  stripe  in  hackle,  especially  in  the  lower  portion 
of  the  lower  or  longest  hackle  feathers,  is  required  and  very  much 
desired  in  an  exhibition  male.  To  obtain  such,  it  is  generally  neces- 
sary   to    breed    from    females    that    possess    the    same    character. —  (Ed.) 


258 


AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 


PLATE  81 


ular. 


SILVEJM'i;\(|l,i;i)    I'l.V.MOlTlI    EOCK 

Illustrating  defects  in  color  of  male   as  follows: 

Hackle — Weak  in  striping. 

Shoulders — Irregularly  splashed  with  black. 

Wing-Bows — Splashed  with   black  markings. 

Wing-Bars — Splashed  with  white. 

Wing-Primaries — White  at  root,  also  white  at  tips. 

Primary   Coverts — White   tips. 

Wing-Secondaries — White   edging   in    upper   secondaries,   very   irreg- 

Saddle  Feathers— Weak,  indefinite  striping. 
Tail-Coverts — Stripe   too  weak,  laced  edging  irregular. 
Tail,  Sickles   and   Smaller   Sickles — White   at  root. 


PLYMOr  TTI  ROCK  STAXDARD  AXD  BREED  ROOK  L'59 

PLATE  ,82 


SILVEE-PENCILED   PLYMOUTH  EOCK 

RL'"Jj'"If  r   ""  ,'"'C^"'=1^^«  Standard-bred  male: 
Head    Back   and   Wmg-Bows— Clear,   silvery  white 
edging  feather  showing  clear  black  striping  an. 

.iv^l;^^^   '^^^'^^^^^,    iS^^n^^i^er    side 

whit!  ^^^'^^    ^'^"'^'   ^^^'^'•'y   ^t'-'P^I   ^"h   black,    edged   with    silvery 

^fn^.V^l^^^^f';^'  ^'M*^^  ^ith   silvery  white. 
«^ii  T  Jt^    Sickles— Glossy,  greenish  black. 
Breast— Glossy,   greenish   black. 
Body — Black. 


silvery   whit< 


ith 


260 


AMEIUCAX  POT  LTRY  ASSOC/AT/0\ 


PLATE  83 


SILVEE-PENCILED   PLYMOUTH  EOl'K 


Illustrating  defective  female  color,  as  follows: 

Neck  feathers  weak  in  striping. 

Back,  wing-bows  and   fluflp  irregularly  and  coarsely  penciled. 

Shafting  showing  on  the  wing-bows;  many  feathers  in  back  and 
fluff   not   penciled;    penciling   lacking  in   secondaries. 

Primaries  do  not  show  the  correct  gray  edging;  splashes  of  white 
and  gray  at  ends  of  primaries. 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  l^T.WDARD  AND  HREEI)  BOOK 


261 


PLATE  84 


SILVKR-PENCILED   PLYMOITTH  ROCK 

Markings  on  a  high-class,  Staiid.-ird-brt'd   fciiiah'. 

Head — Silvery  gray. 

Neek — Silvery  white,  black   stripe   penciled  witli   j;ray. 

Wing  Primaries — Black,  lower  edge  penciled  witli  gray. 

Tail  Proper — Black,  penciled  with  gray. 

All  remaining  plumage  silver-gray,  with  distinct  dark  pencilings, 
outlines  of  which  conform  very  closely  to  shape  of  feathers.  The  light 
and  dark  pencilings  as  nearly  as  possible  equal  in  width,  giving  a  steely 
gray  effect,  free  from  buff  or  brownish  color  in  any  part. 


262  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

The  chicks  from  both  these  lines  must  be  toe-marked  for 
identification.  The  males  and  females  from  the  one  line  must 
be  used  for  breeding  cockerels  and  cockerel-breeding  pullets ; 
the  males  and  females  from  the  other  line  for  producing  exhibi- 
tion females  and  pullet-breeding  males. 

Whenever  it  may  be  necessary  to  introduce  new  blood  into 
either  one  of  these  lines,  the  best  hen  that  can  be  secured  from 
an  outside  strain  that  produces  good  specimens  can  be  intro- 
duced into  the  flock.  She  can  be  mated  first  with  the  male  breed- 
ing line  and  a  clutch  of  eggs  secured,  which  can  be  hatched  and 
reared  by  a  mother  hen.  The  best  females  produced  from  this 
mating  should  be  mated  back  to  the  male  that  produced  them. 
If  good  specimens  of  both  male  and  female  come  from  the  sec- 
ond mating,  it  will  be  safe  to  breed  this  new  line  into  the  cock- 
erel line  that  has  been  established.  From  the  same  hen  mated 
to  the  best  pullet-bred  cockerel  eggs  may  be  secured  and  hatched 
in  like  manner,  and  the  best  pullets  from  this  mating  re-mated 
to  the  male  that  produced  them.  The  offspring  produced 
from  the  second  mating  may  be  bred  into  the  pullet-bred  line. 
(T.  F.  McG.) 


CHAPTER  V. 

PLUMAGE  DEFECTS  AND  HOW  TO  OVERCOME  THEM 

The  influence  of  the  Partridge  Cochin  that  was  bred  years 
ago  into  the  Dark  Brahma,  and  that  of  the  Partridge  Cochin 
bred  into  the  Penciled  Wyandottes  have  cast  their  shadow  over 
the  plumage  of  all  American  varieties  of  silver-penciled  fowls. 
Although  the  cross  of  the  Partridge  Cochin  was  made  with  the 
Dark  Brahmas  almost  fifty  years  ago,  the  shading  of  reddish- 
brown  continues  to  come  into  the  plumage  of  both  the  male  and 
the  female  of  the  Dark  Brahmas,  and  while  there  is  much  less 
now  than  formerly,  it  still  exists. 

The  cross  of  the  Partridge  Cochin  with  the  Penciled  Wyan- 
dottes came  in  the  original  process  of  the  penciled  varieties.  A 
female  of  the  Golden-Penciled  or  Partridge  variety  was  crossed 
into  the  Silver-Penciled  variety  to  improve  color  and  markings. 
This  was  the  mistake  that  was  made  by  one  of  the  most  success- 
ful breeders,  and  the  one  who  is  credited  really  with  the  best 
accomplishments    toward    the    establishment    of    Sdver-Penciled 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  263 

VVyandottes.  The  Silver-Penciled  Plymouth  Rocks  having  de- 
scended from  the  same  line  of  breeding,  carry  with  them  more 
or  less  of  this  influence,  from  which  reddish-brown  or  brick  color 
is,  at  times,  found  in  the  plumage.  This  color  shows  much  more 
plainly  in  both  the  male  and  female  while  they  still  have  their 
chick  feathers. 

Perhaps  it  is  this  same  influence  that  brings  brassiness  in 
males  and  dark  shading  in  the  shanks  of  both  males  and  females. 
Both  of  these  defects  are  to  be  deplored ;  yet  they  exist,  and  it 
requires  considerable  care  and  judgment  to  prevent  their  in- 
creasing or  to  keep  them  entirely  out  of  the  plumage  of  both 
sexes.  Brassiness  in  the  top  plumage  of  the  males  detracts  con- 
siderably from  their  appearance,  and  renders  them  unfit  for  use 
in  the  breeding  pen.  This  same  influence  makes  it  more  difficult 
to  produce  clean,  clear  gray  or  silver  gray  in  the  female. 

Other  defects  that  must  be  avoided  are :  Too  much  penciling 
in  the  neck  feathers  of  the  female,  any  penciling  in  the  neck  of 
the  male,  and  too  much  white  in  the  wings  of  the  male.  Some  of 
the  best  females  of  this  variety  have  almost  as  much  penciling 
in  their  neck  feathers  as  in  the  body  plumage ;  this  shows  an  ex- 
cessive amount  of  penciling  and  detracts  from  their  quality  as 
exhibition  specimens.  Such  females  may  be  safely  bred  to  a 
male  not  so  strongly  penciled  and  they  may  produce  females 
better  than  they  are  themselves ;  but  there  is  danger  from  the 
use  of  such  females,  because,  where  the  lines  are  not  kept  per- 
fect, injury  may  be  done  to  an  almost  perfect  male  breeding 
strain  by  bringing  this  penciling  into  the  neck  and  plumage  of 
both  the  male  and  the  female  of  that  strain.  There  is  also 
danger  of  losing  the  desired  penciling  in  the  females  unless  the 
lines  are  kept  true  to  blood. 

White  in  Wings. — Too  much  white  in  the  feathers  of  the 
wings  of  the  male  is  apt  to  come  from  the  female  line,  especially 
so  if  light  gray  or  white  undercolor  is  present  in  the  female 
plumage.  To  produce  males  with  almost  perfect  wings  requires 
the  use  of  both  males  and  females  tliat  have  slate  undercolor. 
See  illustration,  Plate  81. 

The  Lower  Fluff. — Perhaps  the  most  difficult  problem  is  to 
obtain  females  with  even  fairly  good  penciling  in  the  fluff  of  the 
plumage  that  covers  the  abdomen.  To  have  this  to  any  extent 
requires  extreme  care  and  watchfulness   of  the  breeding  lines 


264  AMh'h'/C.W  POrLTRV  ASSOCt  \TIO\ 

PLATE  85 


SILVER-PENCILKI)    PLYMOUTH    E0CK8 

Typical    modern    winning    males.      Typical    modern    winning    females 
At  Madison  Square  (inrden,  New  York,  T)ec.  29,  I916.-Jan.  3,  1917. 
2nd  Cock.  1st  Pullet.  1st  Cock.  1st  Hen. 


PLYMOUTH  ROOK  1'<TA\J)ARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  205 

with  the  object  of  producing  beautiful  color  markings  or  pencil- 
ings  in  the  feathers  throughout  the  entire  body. 

The  Tail  Feathers. — Some  of  the  most  exquisitely  penciled 
females,  especially  in  the  Dark  Brahmas.  have  gray  markings  in 
the  greater  part  of  all  the  main-tail  feathers.  In  some  instances 
these  pencilings  will  show  in  the  smaller  sickles  and  coverts  of 
the  male,  as  well  as  in  the  breast  and  body  plumage.  These  same 
defects  will  show  in  the  Silver-Penciled  Plymouth  Rock  males 
that  are  bred  strongly  in  the  female  producing  line,  and  while 
such  are  excellent  for  breeding  pullets,  they  would  not  be  likely 
to  wm  prizes  in  the  show  room.    (T.  F.  McG.) 

One  of  the  best  examples  of  the  possibility  of  penciling  in 
the  neck  plumage  will  be  seen  in  the  illustration  of  the  Dark 
Brahma  female,  in  the  Standard  of  Perfection  of  1915.  Less  of 
it  is  shown  in  the  Silver-Penciled  Plymouth  Rock  female  of  the 
same  Standard ;  and  while  the  Standard  prescribes  that  the  cen- 
tral portion  of  the  neck  feathers  of  the  female  shall  be  black, 
slightly  penciled  with  gray,  the  illustrations  themselves  admit 
that  more  of  this  may  come  than  is  described  by  the  Standard 
description.    See  illustration,  Plate  80. 

(Note. — There  is  a  growing  tendency  among  breeders  of  both 
Siher-Penciled  and  Partridge  varieties  to  allow  the  penciling  in 
the  neck  feathers  of  the  female  to  become  stronger  and  more 
pronounced,  provided  they  secure  the  desired  penciling  on  the 
feathers  of  the  other  sections.  The  art  of  breeding  correct  pen- 
ciling is  very  similar  with  both  colors,  the  Silver-Penciled  and 
the  Partridge,  and  most  of  the  lessons  taught  in  either  chapter 
in  this  work  may  be  applied  to  the  breeding  of  either  of  the 
penciled  varieties. — Ed.j 


SECTI ON     VI  . 

CHAPTER  I. 
PARTRIDGE  PLYMOUTH  ROCKS 

ORIGIN   AND    EARLY    DEVELOPMENT 

THE  rich,  warm  colors  as  exemplified  by  the  red  and  black 
color  patterns  of  the  Partridge  varieties  of  our  Standard- 
bred  fowls  never  fail  to  win  the  admiration  of  all  lovers  of 
the  beautiful  in  animal  life.  The  combined  warmth  and  richness 
of  the  brilliant-red  and  glossy-black  of  Partridge  males  is  quite 
sufficit'ut  to  arouse  the  interest  of  any  person  who  has  the  slight- 
est admiration  for  feathered  pets.  None  the  less  attractive,  and 
to  many  even  more  so,  are  the  unique  and  strikingly  beautiful 
markings  of  the  female  sex  in  the  charming  contrast  of  rich  ma- 
hogany-brown and  black. 

Further  consideration  of  the  intricacies  of  this  color  pattern 
increases  the  interest  of  the  student  at  a  pace  which  accelerates 
the  more  rapidly  as  these  complexities  are  understood.  The 
breeding  problems,  especially  when  breeding  is  pursued  for  any 
length  of  lime  and  with  any  degree  of  success,  become  so  all- 
absorbing  that  many  continue  the  fascinating  work  for  life  or 
until  some  vital  occurrence  prevents. 

It  is  not  strange,  then,  that  we  find  admirers  of  several 
breeds  of  acknowledged  intrinsic  merit,  of  which  the  Plymouth 
Rock  is  an  example,  endeavoring  to  make  what  is  known  to  be 
serviceable,  beautiful  at  the  same  time  by  transcribing  the 
color  and  markings  of  the  oldest  and  best  known  exponent  of 
this  particular  type  of  beauty,  the  Partridge  Cochin,  to  breeds  of 
different  types  and  temperaments.  Such  was  the  incentive  be- 
hind the  originators  and  early  breeders  of  Partridge  Plymouth 
Rocks,  though  to  accomplish  this  self-imposed  task  they  adopted 
different  methods  and  used  somewhat  different  means. 

The  Origin. — It  is  always  difficult  to  say  just  who  was  the 
first  to  begin  the  development  of  any  breed,  for  in  nearly  all 
instances  several  breeders  are  imbued  with  an  idea  at  about  the 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  267 

same  time.  Only  a  few  months  or,  at  the  most,  a  year  or  two 
separates  them  at  the  starting  points.  It  takes  several  years  to 
attract  popular  attention,  and  by  that  time  a  matter  of  a  year  or 
two  in  priority  is  difficult  to  determine.  After  the  advent  of  the 
Partridge  Wyandotte  it  was  but  natural  that  a  Partridge  Plym- 
outh Rock  should  suggest  itself  to  some  one;  and  if  to  one, 
why  not  to  several  persons?  And  that  appears  to  be  just  what 
occurred,  for  we  find  records  of  two  or  three  early  strains  that 
were  developed  in  the  East,  and  one  that  was  originated  and 
developed  in  the  West,  all  of  which  became  very  prominent. 
The  incentive  in  the  latter  case  was  the  admiration  or  love  of 
the  originator  of  this  strain  for  the  Partridge  plumage  combined 
with  the  desire  or  necessity  of  keeping  a  variety  that  would 
develop  flesh  rapidly  and  that  would  produce  large  egg  yields. 
This  line  was  originated,  developed,  and  bred  for  many  years 
by  S.  A.  Noftzger  of  Indiana,  and  for  the  following  facts  and 
particulars  we  are  indebted  to  him. 

(Note. — We  find  this  story  corroborated  in  several  other  pub- 
lications. See  catalogue  of  Mr.  M.  N.  Perkins  of  Freeport, 
Illinois.) 

THE    NOFTZGER    STRAIN 

Acting  upon  the  incentive  just  related,  Partridge  Cochin 
females  of  scanty  leg-feathering,  which  had  proved  to  be  great 
layers,  were  selected  as  the  foundation  from  which  to  derive  the 
Partridge  plumage.  The  first  cross  was  with  a  Cornish  male, 
then  called  Indian  Game.  The  following  account  is  given  in  Mr. 
Noftzger's  own  words,  excepting  for  a  few  minor  alterations  in 
language. 

The  Original  Cross. — "The  first  matings  were  made  in  1898, 
and  consisted  of  scantily  feathered  Partridge  Cochin  females  and 
Indian  Game  males.  The  female  offspring  from  this  first  cross 
were  mated  (in  1899)  to  Golden  Wyandotte  males,  most  of  which 
were  single-comb  sports.  The  young  of  this  second  cross  were 
then,  in  1900,  mated  l)ack  to  the  opposite  sex  that  were  bred 
from  the  original  scantily  feathered  Partridge  Cochins. 

"The  result  of  the  first  cross  was  quite  satisfactory  in  some 
respects,  but  simply  disheartening  in  others.  It  was  wonderful 
how  the  feathers  disappeared  from  the  shanks,  some  of  the  first 
cross  being  almost  free  from  feathers  on  legs,  but  nearly  every 
one  had  the  shape  and  high   station  of  the  Game,  besides  the 


268  AMEIflCAX  POULTRY  AS^^OCIATIOX 

males  were  almost  black  in  hackle  and  saddle,  and  the  females 
inclined  to  open  lacing. 

The  Second  Year. — "How  to  overcome  these  defects  was  the 
problem  of  the  second  year.  In  order  to  get  brighter  color. 
Golden  Wyandotte  males  were  used,  even  in  preference  to  Part- 
ridge Wyandotte  males,  because  the  latter  were  then  so  dark 
and  devoid  of  bright  color  as  to  make  them  very  undesirable  to 
use  with  fowls  already  too  black.  The  majority  of  these  were 
good  in  eyes,  legs  and  top  color.  They  were  mated  principally 
in  pairs  and  trios,  but  one  or  two  of  the  most  desirable  males 
were  given  an  extra  female.  Some  of  these  cockerels  had  fairly 
good  combs,  but  most  of  them  either  had  side  sprigs  or  very 
irregular  combs  with  too  many  serrations. 

"The  results  from  the  second  year's  matings  were  surprising. 
The  cockerel  line  had  been  improved  at  the  expense  of  the  female 
penciling.  For  the  first  time  clay  breasts  appeared  in  plenty 
among  the  females,  but  now  fowls  with  even  stubs  were  not 
much  in  the  majority,  and  shape  as  well  as  male  color,  except  in 
breast  and  body  color,  which  were  somewhat  mottled  in  many 
cases,  was  greatly  improved. 

The  Third  Year. — "Aside  from  color  difficulties  much  trouble 
was  found  in  selecting  enough  breeding  fowls  with  fairly  good 
combs  for  the  third  year's  matings,  for  it  was  fully  determined 
to  use  only  the  foundation  stock.  For,  while  some  of  the  mat- 
ings of  the  past  year  had  resulted  in  fairly  good  colored  birds 
of  one  sex,  there  were  but  few  that  improved  the  color  in  both 
sexes  (reader  should  note  here  the  first  inclination  to  single  mat- 
ings) and  strange  as  it  may  seem,  most  were  troubled  with  stubs 
on  shanks  and  toes. 

"The  third  year  nine  matings  were  made,  but  as  all  the 
progeny  of  three  pens  were  sent  to  market  we  have  to  do  with 
but  six.  It  might  be  well  to  add  that  each  subsequent  year  the 
number  of  matings  that  figured  in  the  production  of  the  Part- 
ridge Plymouth  Rock  fowl  had  a  tendency  to  grow  less,  show- 
ing conclusi\ely  the  wisdom  of  carrying  as  many  matings  as 
possible  at  the  early  stages  of  a  new  breed  of  parti-colored  fowls. 
For  the  originator  must  become  more  critical  and  may  elimi- 
nate the  offspring  of  whole  pens  in  order  to  advance  rapidly.  In 
time  it  is  wise  to  reject  some  of  the  parent  fowls  for  breeders, 
but  not  until  the  desired  characteristics  are  somewhat  estab- 
lished, and  only  close  observation  can  assist  in  determining  when 
to  do  this. 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  ,srA\DARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  269 

Produced  Exhibition  Quality.— "The  progeny  of  the  six 
fairly  successful  matings  of  1900  showed  better  color  of  both 
sexes  as  a  rule  and  some  improvement  in  comb.  At  the  end 
of  this  season  several  specimens  of  each  sex  were  exhibited  at 
small  poultry  shows,  attracted  some  attention,  and  several  sales 
were  made. 

"Realizing  the  necessity  of  a  sufficient  number  of  matings 
in  order  to  improve  rapidly,  ten  pens  were  mated  in  1901,  using 
cock  birds  and  hens  tor  the  first  time.  Special  attention  was 
given  to  shape  in  these  matings,  with  the  result  that  little  ad- 
vancement was  made  in  color,  but  the  improvement  in  shape 
was  noticeable.  This  year  was  quite  discouraging,  and  much  of 
the  stock  was  marketed.  On  the  other  hand,  there  was  con- 
siderable interest  shown  in  the  Partridge  Plymouth  Rock  and 
a  number  of  matings  were  sold.  Some  of  the  very  best  oi 
these  were  placed  in  this  vicinity,  as  it  was  evident  that  their 
offspring  might  subsequently  be  of  value  in  getting  'new  blood' 
for  future  matings. 

More  Satisfactory  Results. — "A  few  of  the  fowls  produced 
in  1904  were  quite  satisfactory.  There  were  now  some  pretty 
good  colored  males  and  fair  colored  females.  As  a  whole  they 
were  much  better  in  Rock  shape  than  previously.  Several  birus 
were  sold  for  breeding  purposes. 

"For  1905  six  matings  were  made,  using  two  of  the  cock 
birds  which  had  proved  to  be  fine  breeders,  and  four  cockerels, 
two  each  from  these  two  cock  birds.  With  each  male  were 
from  two  to  four  females.  In  one  of  these  pens  a  single-comb 
Partridge  Wyandotte  pullet  was  placed,  keeping  her  eggs  sepa- 
rated and  carefully  marking  all  her  chicks,  as  had  been  done 
with  all  from  the  beginning. 

"The  result  this  year  showed  that  blood  began  to  tell,  for 
the  males  not  only  improved,  but  there  were  actually  some  good 
Partridge  colored  females,  while  with  the  exception  of  the 
chicks  from  the  Wyandotte  sport  they  were  fairly  good  in 
shape.  These  youngsters  were  culled  down  very  closely,  al- 
though real  culls  were  now  in  the  minority,  and  every  chick  with 
stubs,  with  other  than  good  shape  or  with  a  poor  comb  was 
discarded.  The  chicks  from  the  Wyandotte  sport,  together 
with  their  mother,  were  all  disposed  of,  as  most  of  them  had 
dark  legs  and  very  few  of  them  even  passable  shape,  so  they 
were  considered  worthless  as  breeders. 

"At  minor  shows  where  a  few  of  the  best  specimens  were 
placed  on  exhibition,  the  judges  complimented  their  quality,  and 


270  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

for  the  first  time  encouragement  was  received  from  expert  au- 
thority. This  year  inquiries  came  for  the  new  variety,  and 
some  nice  specimens  were  mated  and  sold  at  good  prices.  Dur- 
ing the  year  Partridge  Plymouth  Rock  fowls  were  shipped  to 
five  different  states. 

Quality  Is  Established. — "Eight  matings  of  quite  respect- 
able quality  were  made  for  1906.  The  breeders  were  actually 
selected  for  standard  requirements  and  in  several  of  the  pens 
as  many  as  five  females  were  used.  Even  this  number  indicated 
great  progress.  Those  now  chosen  were  of  good  shape  and  color, 
and  had  good  bay  eyes,  as  a  rule.  Owing  to  the  foundation 
stock  used,  no  difficulty  had  been  experienced  with  leg  color, 
so  the  chicks  showed  on  the  whole  by  far  more  improvement 
than  at  any  previous  year  and  were  quite  even  in  quality.  Breed- 
ing fowls  for  next  year  were  selected  from  all  these  pens.  In- 
terest in  the  new  fowls  was  growing  rapidly,  sales  increased 
proportionately  and  show  birds  began  to  sell. 

"For  1907  ten  pens  were  mated,  using  sixty  females,  and 
the  new  breed  made  the  greatest  progress  in  its  history.  This 
was  natural,  however,  as  several  of  the  matings  were  headed 
by  males  richer  in  color  than  the  Wyandottes,  and  the  females 
were  the  equal  of  the  other  breeds  in  this  respect,  while  in 
eyes  and  legs  the  new  breed  was  better  than  either  Partridge 
Cochins  or  Partridge  Wyandottes.  From  these  matings  many 
fine  specimens  were  produced. 

"In  one  flock  of  youngsters,  hatched  from  April  first  to 
April  fourteenth,  1906,  there  were  just  twenty-four  pullets,  the 
quality  of  which  was  such  that  every  pullet  was  used  for  breed- 
ing purposes. 

"For  1908  fourteen  matings  were  made.  These  pens  pro- 
duced over  a  hundred  choice  show  fowls,  besides  numerous  win- 
ners for  minor  shows,  and  a  number  of  fine  show  birds  won  in 
the  hands  of  fanciers  at  America's  leading  exhibitions.  Judges 
unhesitatingly  approved  of  them.  There  might  have  been  a 
shorter  road  to  success.  It  may  be  that  the  Partridge  Plymouth 
Rock  could  have  been  produced  in  less  time,  by  simply  taking 
the  American  Partridge  Cochin  and  breeding  the  feathers  from 
the  shanks,  selecting  from  time  to  time  the  specimens  with 
least  feathers  on  legs  for  the  breeders.  It  is  noticeable  that 
as  the  feathers  disappear  from  the  legs  of  fowls  there  is  a 
tendency  of  the  cushions  and  the  depth  of  breast  to  go  with 
them  so  that  it  would  have  been  comparatively  easy  to  have 
perfected  Plymouth  Rock  shape  in  this  way.     Or,  at  the  start. 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  271 

by  taking  Partridge  Wyandotte  Sports,  the  path  might  have 
been  temporarily  strewn  with  roses  at  many  places  where  there 
were  thorns  only,  but  in  that  event  we  would  not  have  had  the 
true  Partridge  Rock  today." 

THE  EASTERN  STRAINS 

While  this  new  variety  was  being  developed  as  related  above 
in  the  West,  Indiana  being  regarded  in  New  England  and  Nev/ 
York  as  the  West,  in  consequence  of  which  the  Noftzger  strain 
is  known  in  the  East  as  the  Western  strain,  it  was  also  under- 
going the  ordeals  of  a  formative  period  in  the  eastern  states, 
New  York  and  Pennsylvania  surely,  if  not  in  others. 

George  H.  Brackenbury  of  Auburn,  N.  Y.,  who  was  so 
prominent  in  the  origin  and  development  of  the  Partridge  and 
Silver-Penciled  Wyandottes,  in  the  American  Fancier  of  Janu- 
ary, 1900-1901,  credits  E.  O.  Thiem  with  being  the  first  to 
breed  this  variety,  but  states  that  he  had  some  time  before 
discontinued  and  gives  real  credit  to  Dr.  W.  C.  Crocker  of 
Foxboro,  Mass.,  with  being  the  first  to  establish  a  true  strain  of 
Partridge  Plymouth  Rocks.  W.  F.  Fotterall,  the  owner  of 
Hillcrest  Farm,  also  credits  the  same  party,  but  states  that 
the  first  he  ever  saw  were  shown  by  R.  G.  Bluffington  of  Fall 
River,  Mass.  Mr.  Buffington's  name  appears  in  other  pages 
of  this  work  as  one  of  the  originators  of  early  breeders  ot 
Buff  Plymouth  Rocks.  Originating  or  developing  a  new 
variety  was  a  constant  occupation  of  Mr.  Buffington's  through- 
out life. 

The  Dr.  Crocker  referred  to  relates  his  experience  in  the 
Poultry  Tribune  of  1904.  From  this  it  appears  that  he  had 
bred  Partridge  Cochins  in  the  early  seventies,  1870,  and  while 
he  admired  their  plumage,  he  came  to  the  conclusion  that  he 
wanted  an  up-to-date  American  fowl  and  formed  a  concf-ption 
of  his  ideal.  As  he  told  it,  "It  was  one  with  the  beautiful  plum- 
age of  the  Partridge  Cochins,  but  without  feathers  on  the  shank 
to  be  draggled  in  the  mud  and  filth,  and  second,  my  ideal  fowl 
must  be  an  active,  up-to-date,  wide-awake  American  fowl,  and 
not  so  lazy  that  it  had  to  be  put  to  bed  on  the  roost  every 
night." 

"For  some  years  I  dropped  the  poultry  subject,  but  in  1899 
I  again  took  up  the  matter,  and  this  time  determined  to  make 
what  I  wanted.     For  this  purpose  I  procured  a  trio  of  Partridge 


272  AMERICAX   POf  J,Th'\    ASSOffATfOX 

Cochins,  and  after  some  comparison  of  notes  with  Mr.  Richard 
Hooper,  who  was  breeding  Partridge  Cochin  and  Brown  Leg- 
horn crosses,  I  went  to  the  Boston  Poultry  Show  for  1900,  and 
while  there  was  surprised  to  find  that  someone  had  anticipated 
my  plan,  for  there  was  first  shown  by  Messrs.  Cornell  and 
Brackenbury.  the  beautiful  new  variety  that  Mr.  Brackenbury 
had  bred,  with  the  plumage  of  the  Partridge  Cochin.  In  talking 
to  Mr.  Brackenbury  I  revealed  to  him  my  plan  for  a  Partridge 
Plymouth  Rock,  and  later  procured  from  him  and  from  Mr. 
Cornell  all  the  single  combed  sports  from  their  Golden  Penciled 
Wyandottes.  These  single  combed  sports  were  bred  with  a  half- 
blood  Partridge  Cochin  male  that  Mr.  Brackenbury  bred  from 
his  stock,  and  also  with  a  cross-bred  cockerel  of  Mr.  H()i)])cr"s 
stock,  bred  three-fourths  Partridge  Cochin  and  one-fourth 
Brown  Leghorn.  From  these  matings  1  have  bred  some  very 
fine  specimens  of  a  Partridge  Plymouth  Rock — an  American 
type  of  fowl  with  the  clean  shanks  and  the  beautiful  Partridge 
Cochin  plumage.  I  have  also  bred  a  strain  in  connection  with 
Hooper  from  my  trio  of  Partridge  Cochins  of  1900.  and  an 
Indian  Game  cockerel  bred  by  Mr.  Charles  D.  Cotton.  From 
this  strain  we  now  have  some  very  fine  specimens  with  very  rich 
plumage.  My  strain  of  Partridge  Plymouth  Rocks  are  now  bred 
closely  as  follows:  Golden  Penciled  Hamburg.  1-16;  (iolden 
Laced  Wvandotte.  2-16;  Brown  Leghorn.  1-16;  Partridge  Cochin. 
12-16." 

From  these  accounts  it  appears  that  the  honor  of  originating 
Partridge  Plymouth  Rocks  is  really  divided  between  the  Eas- 
tern and  Western  strains,  as  they  were  afterwards  known,  or 
the  Crocker  and  Noftzger  strains.  According  to  these  accounts. 
Mr.  Noftzger  made  the  first  mating  with  a  Partridge  Plymouth 
Rock  in  mind  only  one  year  before  Dr.  Crocker  began  breed- 
ing with  the  same  ideal  in  mind.  We  are  very  fortunate  to 
have  these  accounts  by  the  originators  themselves,  preserved 
in  such  a  manner  that  certain  uncertainties  that  hang  over  the 
ancestry  of  some  of  our  American  varieties  do  not  obscure  the 
lineage  of  this  one. 

One  strain  is  Partridge  Cochins.  Dark  Cornish  and  Golden 
Wyandottes  together,  while  the  other  is  a  composite  of  Part- 
ridge Cochin,  Golden  Wyandotte,  Brown  Leghorn  and  Golden- 
Penciled  Hamburg  blood.  The  former  would  seem  to  be  su- 
perior in  flesh  and  the  latter  in  laying  qualities,  as  it  has  the 
blood  of  two  of  the  best  of  laying  breeds  in  its  makeup.     Part 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  273 

ridge  Cochin  blood  was  so  predominant  in  both,  however,  that 
one  should  expect  a  very  great  resemblance  to  that  variety  in 
form  as  well  as  in  color. 


OTHER  EASTERN  STRAINS. 

Though  not  real  originators,  but  still  so  intimately  associ- 
ated with  the  early  development  of  this  variety  and  so  nearly 
contemporary  with  the  originators  that  they  are  classed  as 
pioneers,  are  several  other  breeders  who  were  making  Partridge 
Plymouth  Rocks  by  methods  of  their  own  very  soon  after 
Crocker  and  Noftzger  had  started  theirs.  Among  these,  the  most 
prominent,  perhaps,  and  one  that  was  exhibited  constantly 
until  very  recently,  was  the  Hillcrest  Strain. 


THE  HILLCREST  STRAIN 

This  strain  was  created  and  developed  by  W.  F.  FotteraH, 
of  Philadelphia,  on  his  estate  at  Oakland,  Pa.  Mr.  Fotterall 
states  that  prior  to  1902  he  had  tried  to  produce  Partridge  Plym- 
outh Rocks  by  several  different  crosses.  Finally,  two  crosses, 
first,  Brown  Leghorn  and  Partridge  Cochins,  and  second.  Barred 
Plymouth  Rocks  and  Partridge  Cochins  were  made,  and  the 
progeny  mated  together  the  following  year.  The  females  ob- 
tained from  this  mating  were  then  mated  with  a  cock  bird  that 
was  a  cross  of  Brown  Leghorn  and  Partridge  Cochin. 

At  this  stage  Mr.  Fotterall  bred  birds  obtained  from  Buff- 
ington  and  others  with  his  own  up  to  within  less  than  a  decade. 


THE  HAGEMAN  STRAIN 

Mr.  J.  A.  Hageman,  of  Michigan,  originated  and  developed 
what  he  termed  a  laying  strain  of  Partridge  Plymouth  Rocks 
early  in  the  history  of  the  variety.  According  to  his  account, 
his  strain  was  developed  by  amalgamating  the  result  of  a  cross 
of  Partridge  Cochins  and  Brown  Leghorns  made  by  W.  H. 
Bryan,  of  Brooksfield,  Mich.,  and  of  another  cross  of  Part- 
ridge Cochins  and  Indian  Games,  now  known  as  Cornish,  by  Mr. 
F.  H.  Lynd,  Middleville,  Mich.,  with  Partridge  Plymouth  Rock 
blood  supplied  from  the  flock  of  a  Mr.  Randall,  of  Mt.  Pleas- 


274  AMERICAN  POULTRY  .-i.SVS'OC/.lT/O.V 

ant,  Mich.,  which  flock,  however,  Mr.  Hageman  opines  is  noth- 
ing more  nor  less  than  Partridge  W'vandottes  breeding,  using, 
of  course,  the  single-coml)  sports. 

Similarity  Between  the  Old  and  New  Varieties. — This  state- 
ment of  Mr.  Hageman  gives  evidence  that  the  Brown  Leghorn 
and  Cornish  blood  cross  is  employed  in  more  than  one  instance. 
This  is  not  surprising,  as  the  striking  similarities  between  the 
plumage  of  the  Brown  Leghorn  and  the  Partridge  Cochin  males 
and  the  not  very  unlike  plumage  of  the  females  of  these  two 
varieties,  taken  together  with  the  fact  that  the  type  sought, 
Plymouth  Rock,  is  about  a  mean  between  the  Leghorn  and 
the  Cochin,  suggests  very  favorably  the  possibilities  of  such  a 
cross.  The  possibilities  of  a  Cornish  cross,  too.  are  clearly  ap- 
parent because  of  certain  similarities,  particularly  the  shade  of 
color  of  both  male  and  female  and  the  penciling  of  the  latter, 
very  similar  in  fact,  though  not  of  the  required  number. 

It  is  noteworthy  that  each  one  of  the  originators  and  early 
breeders  lays  great  stress  on  the  efforts  made  to  quickly  per- 
fect type  by  selecting  only  those  specimens  that  were  the  best 
Plymouth  Rock  shape.  The  impression  given  is  that  type  was 
ever  given  the  preference  over  color  and  penciling,  but  to  some 
of  those  who  have  watched  the  variety  develop,  and  not  only 
this  but  other  penciled  varieties,  it  appears  that  many  sacrifices 
in  type  must  have  been  made  for  the  sake  of  true  pencilings. 
that  is.  unless  type  refers  to  comb. 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  ST.WDAND  AXD  BREED  BOOK  275 

CHAPTER  II. 
PARTRIDGE  PLYMOUTH  ROCK  PLUMAGE 

STANDARD  DESCRIPTION 

Disqualifications 

Positive  white  in  main  tail  feathers,  sickles  or  secondaries  ; 
shanks  other  than  yellow  or  dusky  yellow.  (See  general  and 
Plymouth  Rock  disqualifications.) 

COLOR  OF  MALE 

Head. — Plumage,  bright  red. 

Beak. — Dark  horn,  shading  to  yellow  at  point. 

Eyes. — Reddish-bay. 

Comb,  Face,  Wattles  and  Ear-Lobes, — Bright  red. 

Neck. — Hackle,  web  of  feather  solid.  lustrous  greenish-black, 
with  a  narrow  edging  of  rich,  brilliant  red.  uniform  in  width, 
extending  around  point  of  feather;  shaft,  black;  plumage  in 
front  of  hackle,  black. 

Wings. — Fronts,  black ;  bow,  rich,  brilliant  red ;  coverts, 
lustrous  greenish-black,  forming  a  well-defined  bar  of  this  color 
across  wings  when  folded  ;  primaries,  black,  lower  edges,  red- 
dish-bay ;  secondaries,  black,  outside  webs,  reddish-bay,  termi- 
nating with  greenish-black  at  end  of  each  feather. 

Back. — Rich,  brilliant  red  with  lustrous  greenish-black  stripe 
down  the  middle  of  each  feather,  same  as  in  hackle. 

Tail. — Black ;  sickles  and  smaller  sickles,  lustrous  greenish- 
black;  coverts,  lustrous  greenish-black,  edged  with  rich,  brilliant 
red. 

Breast. — Lustrous  black. 

Body  and  Fluff. — Body,  black  ;  fluff,  black,  slightly  tinged 
with   red. 

Legs  and  Toes. — Thighs,  black  ;  shanks  and  toes,  yellow. 

Undercolor  of  All  Sections. — Slate. 

COLOR  OF  FEMALE 

Head. — Plumage,  mahogany-brown. 

Beak. — Dark  horn,  shading  to  yellow  at  point. 

Eyes. — Reddish-bay. 

Comb,  Face,  Wattles  and  Ear  Lobes. — Bright  red. 


AMERICAX  POVLTRV    iNNOr/  1770.V 


PLATE  Sfi 


rLYMOl  Tfl  ROCK  N7' 1  .\7>  1 /.'/>  .WD   HREED  ROOK 


PLATE  S( 


PARTRIDGE    PLYMOUTH    ROCK    FEMALE 


278  AM  ERIC  A\  POTl/PRY  A.S.S'Or/ 1770.V 

Neck. — Reddish-bay,  center  portion  of  feathers  black,  sHghtly 
penciled  with  mahogany-brown,  feathers  in  front  of  neck,  same 
as  breast. 

Wings. — Shoulders,  bows  and  coverts,  mahogany-brown,  pen- 
ciled with  black,  outlines  of  pencilings  conforming  to  shape  of 
feathers  ;  primaries,  black  with  edging  of  mahogany-brown  on 
outer  webs  ;  secondaries,  inner  webs,  black,  outer  webs  mahog- 
any brown,  penciled  with  black,  outlines  of  jiencilings  conform- 
ing to  shape  of  feathers. 

Back. — Mahogany-brown,  distinctly  i)enciled  with  black,  the 
outlines  of  pencilings  conforming  to  shape  of  feathers. 

Tail. — Black,  the  two  top  feathers  j^enciled  with  mahogany- 
brown  on  u])per  edge  ;  coverts,  mahogany-brown  penciled  with 
black. 

Breast. — Mahogany-brown,  distinctly  penciled  with  black, 
the  outlines  of  pencilings  conforming  to  shape  of  feathers. 

Body  and  Fluff. — Body  .  mahogany-brown,  penciled  with 
black  ;  fluff,  mahogany-brown. 

Legs  and  Toes. — Thighs,  mahogany-brown,  i)enciled  with 
black  ;  shanks  and  toes,  yellow  or  dusky  yellow. 

Under-Color  of  All  Sections. — Slate. 

Note — l^'.ach  feather  in  back,  breast,  body,  wing-bows,  and 
thighs  to  have  three  or  more  distinct  pencilings. 

COLOR  OF  THE  MALE 

The  Desired  Shades. — There  are,  or  should  be.  but  two  colors 
in  an  ideal  Partridge  male  and  there  should  be  Init  one  shade 
of  each  color. 

The  neck  or  hackle,  shoulder  or  wing-bow,  back,  saddle,  and 
saddle  hangers  may  be  called  the  red  sections,  though  we  must 
understand  that  the  .Standard  recpiires  that  each  feather  in  neck, 
back  and  saddle  should  be  stri})ed  with  black. 

The  Correct  Shade  of  Red. — The  red  is  nevertheless  the  color 
that  is  responsible  for  our  first  impression  because  it  is  visible 
at  as  great  a  distance  as  the  bird  itself.  For  this  reason,  the 
correct  shade  of  red  for  the  sections  enumerated  above  will 
be  first  considered.  To  use  the  words  of  the  Standard,  these 
sections  should  be  "rich,  brilliant  red."  The  term  "rich"  as  used 
in  such  a  connection  is  taken  to  mean  deep,  or  dark,  perhaps. 
This  description  would  exclude  a  light,  thin,  or  shallow  color, 
such  as  orange  shades  which  would  not  meet  the  requirements, 
'i'he  word  "rich"  alone  might  also,  as  understood  in  this  con- 
nection, lead  us  to  produce  some  very  deep  or  dark  shades  of  red 


PLYMOrTH  ROCK  STAXDARD  AXD  BREED  HOOK  279 

but  for  the  fact  that  when  the  red  becomes  too  dark  it  obscures 
the  black  striping  in  hackle  and  saddle  which,  in  the  eyes  of 
most  breeders  and  fanciers,  mars  the  beauty  by  diminishing  the 
brilliancy  of  the  plumage.  For  this  reason,  the  modifying  word 
"brilliant"  is  included  in  the  Standard  description.  When  the 
red  becomes  so  dark  in  shade  that  it  obscures  the  black  strip- 
ing, it  becomes  dull — perhaps  dingy  describes  its  appearance 
more  fittingly — and  the  color  is  therefore  no  longer  brilliant 
and  fails  to  meet  the  Standard  description,  which  prevents  varia- 
tion within  these  limits  that,  either  the  red  must  have  body 
enough  or  must  be  dark  or  deep  enough  to  l)e  "rich,"  but  not 
so  dark  that  it  is  not  "brilliant." 

The  red  shade  which  is  preferred  is  perhaps  difficult  to  de- 
scribe, and  perhaps  it  is  fair  to  make  a  statement  to  the  ef- 
fect that  there  is  one  opinion  as  to  the  shade  of  color  among 
breeders,  as  to  state  that  all  the  males  are  of  one  shade  in  plum- 
age. The  "rich,  brilliant  red"  demanded  by  the  Standard  cer- 
tainlv  gives  a  positive  idea  as  to  color,  but  one  cannot  from 
this  description  settle  upon  an  exact  shade  that  is  to  be  pre- 
ferred to  all  others.  From  the  word  "rich,"  one  is  justified  in 
ruling  against  the  yellowish  shades  of  red,  and  because  of  the 
"brilliant."  one  can  conclude  that  too  dark  or  dull  shades  are 
not  to  be  given  preference.  It  seems  that  what  we  might,  for 
lack  of  a  better  term,  designate  as  a  "happy  medium,"  is  per- 
haps the  desired  shade,  for  all  agree  that  the  yellowish  shades 
are  not  desired  and  very  dark  shades  make  dull  and  unattrac- 
tive plumage.  As  a  guide  as  to  whether  the  red  shades  are  be- 
coming too  dark  or  not,  the  degree  in  which  they  obscure  the 
black  striping  in  neck,  back  and  saddle  may  be  considered.  A 
sufficient  contrast  between  the  red  and  black  to  enable  the  ob- 
server to  distinguish  between  them,  upon  fairly  close  inspection 
only,  should  be  maintained. 

Correct  Striping. — In  order  to  maintain  the  desired  contrast, 
two  essential  color  characteristics  must  be  maintained.  First, 
as  already  pointed  out,  the  red  must  be  of  the  desired  shade 
and  not  too  dull.  Second,  the  black  stripe  must  be  a  lustrous, 
greenish-black,  sometimes  described  as  a  metallic  black. 

Neck, — The  striping  in  this  section  should  be  sound,  that  is, 
unbroken ;  as  explained,  the  stripes  should  possess  a  greenish 
lustre  and  should  be  found  even  in  the  smaller  feathers  near 
the  head.  Too  often,  only  the  larger  and  longer  feathers  at 
the  base  of  the  neck  are  thus  striped. 


280 


AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 


Broken  stripes  are  often  seen  and  very  often  in  males  that 
are  from  well-penciled  females.  This  is  another  characteristic 
that  breeders  who  are  endeavoring  to  produce  strongly  pen- 
ciled females  like  to  see  in  a  male  because  it  indicates  strong 
penciling  in  the  ancestry.  It  is  not  an  exhibition  quality,  how- 
ever, especially  when  it  appears  near  the  lower  end  of  the  feather. 
(See  illustration,  Plate  88.) 

The  Border. — Brilliant  red  should  run  evenly  down  the  side 
of  that  portion  that  is  known  as  the  surface,  and  also  around 
the  end  of  each  feather.  That  is.  the  black  stripe  should  termi- 
nate in  a  V-shaped  point  near  the  end  of  each  feather,  not  at  the 

PLATE  88 


m 


p^ 


PARTRIDGE    PLYMOUTH    ROCKS,    HACKLE    FEATHERS 
(P'rom   different  individuals.) 


1.     Weak   Stripe. 


Too   dark,   black   running  into  fringe.     .3.     Fairly 
good.      4.      Idealized. 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK 


281 


end.  Black  often  runs  through  to  the  border,  forming  a  black 
edge  at  the  tip.  This  is  undesirable,  and  while  a  little  black 
edging  will  be  tolerated  for  the  sake  of  strong  striping,  any 
noticeable  amount  is  discounted  heavily.  Occasionally  a  male, 
that  is  otherwise  very  good  indeed,  will  have  a  neck  so  very 
strongly  black  that  a  ring  of  this  color  is  formed  at  the  base, 
where  it  meets  the  shoulder.  This  defect  alone  makes  a  male 
practically  worthless. 

The  shafts,  particularly  in  the  lower  portion  of  the  feathers, 
should  be  black. 

Back  and  Saddle  Striping. — In  this  section,  the  same  mark- 
ings and  the  same  shades  of  color  as  in  the  hackle  should  be 

PLATE  89 


PARTEIDGE  PLYMOUTH  ROCKS,  SADDLE  FEATHERS 
OF  MALES 


(From    diflferent  individuals.) 

1.     Weak  stripe.     2.      Too   dark,  black  running  into   fringe.      3. 
good.      4.      Idealized. 


Fairly 


282 


AMERfCAX  POf'LTIfY  AHSOCrATfOX 


found.  The  striping  in  the  broad  feathers  of  the  l)ack  will,  of 
course,  and  should  be  much  broader  than  those  in  the  hackle. 
The  striping-  on  the  narrow  feathers  of  the  saddle  will  be  nar- 
rower, but  both  should  be  sound,  that  is,  unbroken  and  possess 
that  metallic  luster  which  creates  such  a  pleasing  contrast  be- 
tween the  rich  red  and  the  lustrous  black.  The  same  state- 
ments about  the  character  of  the  striping  and  the  relations  be- 
tween the  borders,  edging  and  color  of  the  shaft  that  were  made 
about  the  hackle,  apply  to  the  back  and  saddle.  (See  illustra- 
tion, Plate  89.) 

The  Wings. — The  shoulder  is  rich,  brilliant  red  without  black 
markings   and,   as   stated,   should  be  of  the   same   shade   as  the 

PLATE  f)0 


^^^k. 


1  2  3 

PAETRIDGE    PLYMOUTH    ROCKS,    SHOWING    DIFFERENT 

PLUMAGE  OF  WING-BOW,  BACK  AND  BREAST  OF 

MALES 

1.  Wing    Bow.      Black,    broad,    arrow-shaped    marking    at    base    of 
web.     Web  and  fringe  rich,  brilliant  red. 

2.  Back.     Broad,  black  stripe  of  black,  well-pointed,  following  quill 
nearly  to  tip.     Fringe,  rich  brilliant  red. 

3.  Breast.      Lustrous    greenish    black.      All    underfiuff,    slate    color. 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AXD  BREED  BOOK 


283 


Other  red  sections.  Very  often  it  is  of  a  deeper  shade,  which 
fault  must  be  corrected  as  far  as  possible  by  breeding.  The 
coverts  are  greenish-black,  forming  a  well-outlined  bar  across 
the  wing.  This  line  between  the  wing-bow  and  wing-bar  is  one 
of  the  beauty  points  of  the  male  if  it  is  distinctly  outlined,  as 
it  should  be.  When  seen  at  its  best,  this  line  is  not  only  sharply 
defined,  but  very  regular  in  outline,  either  running  straight  across 
the  wing  or  curving  slightly  ;  either  line  if  regular  and  distinct 
is  very  beautiful.  The  wing-bay  should  also  be  sharply  de- 
fined,  though  but   little  difficulty  is  experienced   in  this   particu- 

PLATE  !tl 


1.     PrimaTv.     2.     Secondary.     3.     Top  main-tail.     4.     Main-tail. 
FEATHERS   OF   PARTEIDGE   PLYMOUTH    ROCK   MALES 


IV.  C.  SiaU  CJhge 

2M  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

lar.  The  wing-bay  is  about  the  same  shade  as  the  shoulders, 
but  seldom  shows  luster  and  frequently  is  lighter  than  the  other 
red  sections.     (See  illustration,  Plate  86.) 

The  wing-bows  should  be  of  the  same  shade  of  bright,  rich 
red  that  is  found  in  head,  neck  and  saddle  sections.  The  fronts 
of  the  wings  should  be  black,  showing  a  decided  greenish  lus- 
ter; the  primaries  black  with  the  lower  side  of  the  feathers 
edged  with  bay ;  secondaries,  upper  part  black  and  lower  side 
with  sufficient  bay  to  form  a  beautiful  triangle  when  wing  is 
folded.  The  end  of  each  of  the  secondaries  should  terminate 
with  greenish  black.     (See  illustration,  Plate  91.) 

PLATP:  92 


PAETEIDGE    PLYMOUTH   EOCKS,   PATTP^ENS   OF   MAEKINGS 

FOUND  IN  NECKS  OF  FEMALES 

1.  Solid,   single    stripe    down    center,    edging   of   reddish    bay,    most 
desirable  for  breeding  exhibition  males. 

2.  Double   penciling,  solid   center   stripes,   edging  reddish   bay. 

3.  Double   penciling,   light   colored   quill,    edging   reddish    bay. 

4.  Triple    penciling.      Quill   red   in   undercolor,   edging   reddish   bay, 
most  desirable  in  females  for  breeding  exhibition  females. 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  285 

Legs  and  Toes. — The  thigh  is,  of  course,  subject  to  the  rule 
which  governs  the  other  black  sections.  The  legs  and  toes 
should  be  yellow,  but  some  of  the  richest  colored  and  best  pen- 
ciled strains  still  show  dark  color  on  the  shanks  and  toes. 

The  Lower  Sections. — The  under  sections,  breast,  body  and 
Hurt',  should  all  be  lustrous,  greenish  black.  The  best  example 
of  what  the  color  of  these  sections  should  be  will  be  found  in 
the  tail,  which  is  most  often  highly  lustrous.  Brown  is  permitted 
in  the  fluff  and  is  often  seen  in  the  rear  body  feathers.  Breeders 
rather  like  its  presence  in  the  latter  section  as  it  seems  prevalent 
in  lines  or  strains  that  produce  strongly  penciled  females. 

The  faults  of  the  black  section  are  purple  sheen  and  bronze 
bars,  both  of  which  are  highly  objectionable.  This  will  be  well 
understood  after  consulting  the  chapter  in  the  Standard  on 
"Cutting  for  Defects." 

THE  COLOR  OF  THE  FEMALE 

The  novice  would  hardly  regard  the  female  of  the  Partridge 
varieties  as  of  the  same  variety  as  the  male,  so  different  are 
the  males  and  females  in  both  color  and  markings,  and  we  must 
note  at  once  the  change  in  the  Standard  color  requirements  from 
the  rich,  brilliant  red  of  the  males  to  the  mahogany-brown  of 
the  females. 

The  Color  of  Female. — The  Partridge  female  is  or  should  be 
most  uniform  in  color  of  all  plumage,  as  one  description  an- 
swers for  all  sections  of  plumage  except  the  neck.  Mahogany- 
brown  penciled  with  black  is  the  color  description  for  all  sec- 
tions. The  head  is  mahogany-brown,  much  like  the  body  sec- 
tions. Only  for  the  neck  do  we  find  a  dift'erent  color  descrip- 
tion and  a  different  color  term,  golden  bay. 

Penciling  surreptitiously  appears  in  the  neck,  the  one  lone 
section  in  which  it  was  not  required.  The  beauty  of  the  neck, 
according  to  the  old  ideal,  was  thus  sacrificed  to  contribute  to 
the  beauty  of  the  other  sections.  That  being  the  object,  ideals 
as  to  the  particular  form  and  number  of  pencilings  have  become 
very  definite  or  exact.  If  these  conform  to  the  shape  of  the 
feather,  without  any  breaks,  so  much  .the  better,  but  regular- 
ity in  penciling  is  usually  given  but  slight  notice,  so  if  the 
neck  has  a  single  penciling,  well  and  good,  if  as  a  rarity,  two. 
so  much  the  better.  On  a  small  feather  the  three  that  are 
required  can  hardly  be  expected  and  but  rarely  occur. 


286  AMERICAN  POII/FRY  ASSOCIATION 

The  plumag-e  is  uniform  in  pattern  in  nearly  all  sections, 
that  is,  nearly  all  the  sections  are  alike  in  color  and  markings. 
Only  the  neck  and  larger  feathers  of  wing  and  tail  are  excep- 
tions to  this,  and  even  these  features  show  a  tendency  to  follow 
the  color  patterns  of  the  feathers  of  the  other  sections.  This 
tendency  is  very  pleasing  to  all  breeders  of  penciled  varieties. 

PLATE  93 


PABTRIDGE    PLYMOUTH    ROCKS,    DIFFERENT    PATTERNS 
OF  PENCILING  ON   WING   SECONDARIES  OF  FKMALES 


L  Oil  lowor  (loft  hand)  edge,  nearly  parallel,  then  turning  irreg- 
ularly outward  to  edge,  on  upper  side  breaks  up  into  irregular  cross 
penciling,  whicli  sliould  be  nearly  solid  black  except  near  end  of  the 
smaller  upper   secondaries. 

2.  Is  barred  instead  of  peiu-iled  parallel  to  edge. 

3.  Penciling  runs  parallel  to  edge  nearly  nil  through  lower  (left 
hand)   web.     Approaches  ideal  marking. 


I'LYMOl  TH  ROCK  STAXDARl)  AXD  BREED  BOOK  287 


PLATE  94 


PARTRIDGE    PLYMOUTH    ROCKS,    SHOWING    THE    DIFFERENCE 

IN  MARKINGS  OF  PRIMARIES  AND  SECONDARIES 

OF  MALES  AND  FEMALES 


Male:      1.     Primary.     2.     Secondary.     Exhibition  specimens. 
Female:     3.     Primary.     -4.     Secondary.     Exhibition  specimens. 


288  AMERICAN'  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

and  proportionately  as  such  a  tendency  manifests  itself.  (See 
illustrations.  Plates  92  and  93. ) 

The  Desired  Shade. — This  must,  of  course,  be  carefully  con- 
sidered. For  the  color  of  the  wing-bow,  secondaries,  back, 
tail-coverts,  breast  and  body,  the  Standard  requires  a  rich,  ma- 
hogany-brown. Obviously,  this  term  allows  some  latitude  for 
individual  preference  and,  as  the  writer  looks  at  the  matter,  there 
s  no  objection  to  that,  rather  the  contrary,  because  it  will  be 
i  regrettable  occurrence  when  color  reciuirements  are  made  so 
^.rbitrar}'  that  breeders  cannot  play  their  fancies  within  reason- 
able limits  in  this  particular.  Furthermore,  judging  for  co'.or 
may  be  overdone  and  very  easily,  as  frequently  has  been  the 
case  when  the  Standard  has  described  the  color  over-exactly. 

We  may  state,  then,  that  the  shades  of  mahogany-brown  as 
they  appear  even  upon  different  winning  individuals  vary  some- 
what, some  being  a  little  lighter,  approaching,  perhaps,  a  deep 
orange-red.  others  being  very  much  darker  or  richer,  the  latter 
being  the  term  commonly  used  by  breeders  and  exhibitors  of 
these  varieties.     The  lighter  shades  are  popular  with  some  be- 

PLATE  9;1 


i^Smitk^iSiii. 


FEATHERS  OF  PARTRIDGE  PLYMOUTH  ROCK  FEMALES, 
IDEALIZED 


1.     Uijper  breast.     2.     Lower  breast.     3.     Back. 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  289 

cause  the  darker  pencilings  are,  on  account  of  greater  contrast, 
more  prominent.  Though  this  feature  is  conceded  an  important 
one  by  all,  others  favor  the  deeper  and  richer,  that  is.  the  darker 
shades  which  undoubtedly  are  regarded  with  greater  favor  by 
a  majority  of  breeders,  exhibitors  and  judges.  This  is  an  in- 
dication that  the  deeper  shades  in  the  eyes  of  a  greater  number 
are  more  beautiful. 

Pencilings  Required.- — The  markings  of  the  sections  named 
in  the  preceding  paragraphs  are  known  among  breeders  and  de- 
scribed in  the  Standard  as  pencilings.  Of  these,  we  have  two 
forms ;  the  crescentic,  the  pattern  which  conforms  to  the  outline 
of  the  featherS;  and  the  straight  across,  which  runs  at  right 
angles  with  the  shape  of  the  feathers.  The  pencilings  of  the 
Partridge  feathers  take  the  crescentic  form.  (See  illustration, 
Plates  95  and  96.) 

That  these  pencilings  should  be  distinct  and  regular  is  the 
crowning   ambition    of   all    breeders    of   all    Partridge    varieties. 

PLATE  96 


FEATHERS  OF  PARTRIDGE  PLYMOUTH  ROCK  FEMALES, 
IDEALIZED 


1.      Cushion. 


Wing-bow.      8.      Wing-bar. 


200 


AHfERICAN  POULTRY  Ai^SOCIATION 
PLATE  97 


PARTRIDGF]    PLYMOUTH   ROCK   FEMALES,   VARIOUS   PATTERNS 

OF   PARTRIDGE   MARKINGS 

DEFECTIVE   FEATHERS   FROM    FEMALE 


UPPER  ROW  LEFT  TO  RIGHT — 1.  Shows  about  the  right  proportion 
of  brown  and  blacli.  The  break  in  outline  of  the  center  penciling  is  a  de- 
fect. 2.  Too  much  brown.  Outlines  of  pencilings  good.  3.  Too  narrow 
brown  pencilings.  Too  few  pencilings,  being  two  only.  Center  penciling 
badly  broken.  4.  Brown  pencilings  too  narrow,  and  too  few,  leaving  too 
much  of  the  web  black.  This  is  one  example  of  coarse  penciling. 
5.   Slightly  different  form  of  number  four. 

SECOND  ROW,  LEFT  TO  RIGHT — 6.  Brown  pencilings,  too  narrow 
and  very  faulty  in  outline,  do  not  follow  the  outline  of  feather.  7.  Brown 
penciling  entirely  absent.  8.  Brown  penciling  straight  across,  not  the 
crescentic  shape.  Usually  seen  on  young  pullets  before  adult  plumage  is 
developed.  9.  A  long  feather  near  the  junction  of  back  and  tail,  showing 
penciling  without  the  crescentic  form,  more  resembling  coarse  striping 
than  penciling.  10.  Top,  main-tail  feather,  showing  irregularities  in  pen- 
ciling on  upper  web.  Also,  penciling  on  lower  web  not  required  by  the 
Standard,  therefore  a  defect  technically,  though  not  objected  to  very  seri- 
ously, if  at  all,  by  breeders.  11.  Main-tail  feather  showing  brown  patches 
and  little  penciling.  Main-tail  feathers,  except  the  top  ones,  should  be 
black. 


PLYMOTTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  ROOK  I'ltl 

PLATE  98 


PARTRIDGE    PLYMOUTH    ROCKS,    EXAMPLES    OF    DEFECTS    IN 
]'LUMAGE   OF    EARLY    SPECIMENS    OF    THE    VARIETY 

Showing-    different    forms    of   irregular    pencilings    in    different    sections. 


292  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

Many  qualities  are  sacrificed  to  obtain  these  peculiar  and  unique 
markings.  Even  the  shade  of  color  is  of  secondary  importance, 
and  it  is  a  noteworthy  fact  that  the  longer  one  breeds  this  vari- 
ety, the  more  he  admires  and  strives  to  produce  these  pencilings 
in  the  highest  state  of  perfection ;  and  in  natural  consequence, 
wing  or  curving  slightly ;  either  line  if  regular  and  distmct 
he  comes  to  regard  the  exact  shade  of  mahogany  as  of  corre- 
spondingly less  importance.  (See  illustration.  Plates  97  and  98 
for  examples  of  irregular  penciling.) 

The  Markings  Required. — As  already  stated,  these  should 
conform  to  the  outline  of  the  feather.  This  is  true  of  the  surface 
of  the  feather,  and  a  little  below.  The  undercolor  or  fluff"  should 
be  a  slaty  color. 

The  Undercolor.— Formerly,  considerable  importance  was 
attached  to  the  shade  of  slate  below  the  surface,  but  of  late  little 
attention  is  paid  to  that  feature.  The  regularly  and  strongly 
penciled  surface  is  what  is  desired — and  for  undercolor?  Why, 
take  whatever  comes  with  the  surface,  which  is  usually  slate  of 
one  shade  or  another,  is  the  line  of  reasoning  usually  applied  l)y 
breeders.  To  be  a  little  more  explicit :  Dark  slate  undercolor 
was  formerly  desired  very  much  because  it  was  thought  that  by 
breeding  for  and  from  specimens  that  possessed  it,  the  disquali- 
fying white,  so  prone  to  appear  in  males,  was  most  eff^ectively 
eliminated.  The  fundamental  reason  why  it  is  no  longer  insisted 
upon  lies  in  the  fact  that  the  best  penciled  specimens  are  inclined 
to  have  light  slate  in  the  undercolor  and  males  from  the  best 
specimens  may  have  light  slate,  or  even  white,  at  the  base  of  the 
feathers,  yet  both  would  be  tolerated  for  the  sake  of  producing 
superior  female  plumage.  Another  reason  is  that  more  brilliant 
surface  color  accompanies  the  lighter  shades  of  undercolor ;  or, 
at  least,  many  think  so. 

The  Color  of  the  Pencilings. — Because  the  ground  color  of 
mahogany-brown  is  marked  with  broad,  black  lines  or  narrow 
bands,  which,  when  approximately  ideal,  may  have  the  appear- 
ance of  having  been  sketched  with  a  pencil,  these  markings  are 
known  as  pencilings. 

To  be  ideal,  the  color  must  be  black.  This  quality  gives 
strength  to  the  pencilings,  by  virtue  of  the  strong  contrast,  as 
true  black  give  prominence  to  the  pencilings.  Lustrous,  green- 
ish-black pencilings  sometimes  appear  and  are  very  pretty, 
though  the  Standard  does  not  require  penciling  of  such  pro- 
nounced black.  Brown  shades  or  any  shade  that  gives  the  pen- 
ciling a  weak,  or,  as  fanciers  express  it,  a  "washed  out"  appear- 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  ROOK  293 

ance,  are  not  desired  for  the  reason  that  there  is  Httle  contrast 
between  the  mahogany  ground  color  and  the  pencilings. 

Irregularities  of  Pencilings. — Aside  from  being  weak  in 
color,  irregularities  take  many  and  varied  forms.  In  substance, 
however,  one  description,  namely,  failing  to  follow  the  outline 
of  the  feather,  covers  them  all.  Occasionally,  pencilings  will 
vary  so  from  their  true  course  that  they  will  run  straight  across 
the  feathers  as  barring  does.  This  is  far  from  what  is  desired. 
Other  pencilings  will  break,  leaving  a  space,  while  others  zig- 
zag around  instead  of  having  a  clean,  straight  outline.  Again, 
one  edge,  usually  the  outer,  will  have  sharp  definition,  while  the 
other  is  inclined  to  rather  gradually  run  into  the  ground  color. 
All  these  faults  and  others  must  be  bred  out  by  selection  of  both 
male  and  female  parents.    (See  illustration,  Plate  98.) 

Too  Few  Pencilings. — The  Standard  requires  each  feather  in 
the  penciled  sections  to  have  three  or  more  distinct  pencilings. 
As  a  rule,  when  the  pencilings  are  more  than  this  number,  they 
are  not  as  distinct  as  if  reduced  to  three  or  less.  The  fewer  the 
pencilings.  the  more  prominent  they  Ijecome  because  they  are 
heavier  or  coarser.  Fineness  is  usually  acquired  at  the  expense 
of  prominence,  and  on  this  point  some  difference  of  opinion  has 
existed  as  to  which  characteristic  was  the  most  desirable.  The 
advocates  of  fine  pencilings  have  proven  to  be  the  most  numer- 
ous as  well  as  the  most  influential.  This  much  can  be  said  as  to 
the  merits  of  each  side  in  the  controversy.  Both  were  trying  for 
an  attribute  that  created  beauty.  The  question  was,  which  type 
was  the  most  striking?  The  advocates  of  more  pencilings  won 
because  of  the  particularly  pleasing  effect  of  the  remarkable 
regularity  of  the  unicpie  markings  in  even  and  richlv  contrasting 
colors. 


294  AMERICAN  POTILTRY  ASSOC fATION 

CHAPTER  III. 

MATING    PARTRIDGE    PLYMOUTH    ROCKS 

The  widely  divergent  shades  found  on  the  male  and  female  of 
this  variety,  to  which  attention  has  already  been  called,  together 
with  the  complicated  and  intricate  system  of  markings  of  the 
female  plumage  makes  the  Partridge  Plymouth  Rock  one  of  the 
most  difficult  varieties  in  the  Standard  to  breed  to  an  approxi- 
mate degree  of  perfection.  Therefore,  experience  and  skill  in 
selecting  and  mating  on  the  part  of  the  breeder  are  assets  of 
considerable  value. 

The  Partridge  variety  of  any  and  all  breeds  furnishes  one 
of  the  most  pronounced  examples  of  the  necessity  of  double- 
mating,  according  to  the  principles  of  mating  as  related  in  Part 
II,  that  a  special  mating  for  each  sex  is  necessary  when  the 
sexes  have  different  color  patterns.  In  neither  color  nor  in  mark- 
ings are  the  Partridge  sexes  alike.  If  one  is  not  familiar  with 
the  Partridge  markings,  it  is  inconceivable  that  males  with  solid 
colored  feathers  in  breast,  shoulders,  wing  anrl  tail  coverts  will 
breed  females,  the  feathers  of  which  sections  are  of  two  widely 
contrasting  colors,  and  furthermore,  diverge  so  widely  from  a 
solid  colored  web  as  to  show  three  distinct  crescentic  pencilings. 
Yet,  a  knowledge  of  the  difference  in  color  and  color  patterns  of 
male  and  female  in  Partridge  varieties  was  handed  down  to  us 
with  our  first  information  about  Asiatic  fowls. 

Single  Matings. — Many  of  the  breeders  today  practice,  or 
claim  to  practice,  single  mating.  The  requirements  of  the  latest 
(1915)  Standard  are  much  more  favorable  to  this  method  than 
were  the  Standards  before.  First,  because  penciled  necks  are 
permitted  on  the  females.  It  has  always  been  difficult  to  breed 
penciling  in  all  soft  and  semi-soft  feathers,  except  those  of  the 
neck  and  exclude  it  from  those.  By  accepting  necks  that  are 
slightly  penciled,  we  receive  more  and  better  pencilings  in  all 
other  sections.  Second,  because  the  males  that  are  the  sons  of 
the  best  penciled  females  have  also  been  prone  to  show  brown 
edging  in  the  soft  fluff  feathers,  which  the  present  standard 
allows,  and  very  often,  also,  in  the  breast,  we  have  a  beginning 
toward  the  acceptance  of  the  son  of  the  best  penciled  female  as 
the  ideal  male.  But  this  son  of  the  female  goes  further  and  has 
more  or  less  brown  in  the  rear-body  feathers,  and  sometimes  in 
breast,  and  the  striping  in  hackle  and  saddle  is  sometimes  broken 


I'LYMOI  TH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  295 

and  weak,  failing  in  continuity  and  lacking  in  strength,  intensity 
and  lustre.  Often,  only  at  the  end  and  then  for  no  greater  extent 
than  an  inch  or  less  does  a  real  stripe  appear.  So  that  if  we 
adhere  to  the  ideals  of  old,  or  to  present  ideals  in  males,  there 
are  still  advantages  to  be  gained  by  the  double-mating  system, 
because  we  can  more  easily  conform  to  Standard  requirements 
in  these  sections,  that  is,  we  can  more  easily  obtain  solid  black 
breasts,  and  rear  body  sections,  as  well  as  stronger  or  more 
metallic  striping  in  male  hackles  and  saddles. 

The  Popularity  of  Single  Matings. — Some  breeders  object  to 
double  matings  because  amateurs  cannot  understand  them,  and 
small  breeders  have  no  room  for  them.  This  causes  the  novice 
to  look  for  simpler  problems,  or,  in  other  words,  to  take  up  the 
breeding  of  some  variety  regarded  as  less  difficult.  The  idea  is 
prevalent  that  double  mating  is  a  disadvantage  to  any  variety. 
Single  mating  is  then  practiced  to  create  or  maintain  popularity 
rather  than  to  produce  superior  specimens.  As  a  commercial 
expediency,  it  may  be  wisdom  to  develop  Partridge  Rocks  along 
single  mating  lines.  That  will  manifestly  depend  upon  the  senti- 
ment of  the  times.  This  much  is  granted :  that  as  long  as  breed- 
ers will  adhere  to  the  practice  of  single  matings,  they  will  meet 
in  the  show  room  upon  even  ground,  because  all  their  specimens 
will  be  produced  by  single  mating.  There  can  be  no  complaint 
of  unfair  advantages.  In  breeding,  much  attention  must  be  paid 
to  the  penciling  and  color  of  the  females.  Should  the  develop- 
ment of  these  female  characters  produce  males  that  are  not  of 
sufficient  exhibition  merit  to  be  satisfactory  to  the  breeder,  it  is 
obvious  that  females  with  stronger  striping  and  with  less  pencil- 
ing in  the  hackle  must  be  selected  to  produce  males  of  greater 
exhibition  merit. 

The  Ideal  Mating.  -The  mating  sought  at  the  present  time  is 
one  that  will  produce  both  exhibition  males  and  females  of  suffi- 
cient quality  to  win.  Such  a  mating  usually  consists  of  a  male 
of  rich  red.  though  not  dark  enough  nor  deep  enough  in  shade 
to  obscure  the  l)lack  stripe  in  neck  and  saddle  ;  as  even  in  the 
red  shade  of  neck,  shoulders,  back  and  saddle  as  possible;  with 
some  red  in  fluff  feathers,  and  possibly  a  little  in  body  and  lower 
breast  feathers  may  be  tolerated  in -many  matings  and  even 
sought  in  a  few.  Such  a  male  is  now  considered  fairly  good 
exhibition  color,  notwithstanding  minor  discrepancies  when  com- 
pared with  the  Standard  description.  It  will  be  noticed  that  the 
fluff  or  soft  feathers  back  of  and  between  the  thighs  may  be 


296  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

"tinged  with  red."  Generally,  the  red  extends  beyond  these 
limits  and  is  found  in  the  body  feathers.  This  is  tolerated  by 
most  judges,  though  not  permitted  in  the  words  of  the  Standard 
as  interpreted  literally,  because  penciling  is  both  desired  and 
required  in  this  section  of  the  female  plumage  and  it  is  conceded 
that  females  with  pencilings  which  extend  well  to  the  rear  of  the 
body  produce  males  with  red  in  this  section.  In  a  general  way, 
it  may  be  stated  that  the  sires  and  brothers  of  the  most  perfectly 
and  consistently  penciled  females  show  considerable  red  in  those 
sections  that  correspond  to  the  penciled  sections  of  the  females, 
breast  and  wing  coverts  possibly  excepted ;  though  the  better  the 
pencilings  of  these  female  sections,  the  more  apt  are  the  corre- 
sponding sections  on  the  sires  and  brothers  to  show  red  or 
brown.    (See  illustration,  Plate  99.) 

The  female  desired  to  mate  to  such  a  male  is  the  one  that 
conforms  most  closely  to  the  Standard  of  Perfection  in  color  and 
markings,  and  shape  also,  of  course,  but  this  feature  is  treated 
under  that  head,  and  one  treatise  does  for  all  varieties  of 
Plymouth  Rocks. 

The  Standard  Partridge  Plymouth  Rock  female  should  pre- 
sent a  rich,  glossy  appearance.  In  color  she  should  be  neither 
too  light  nor  too  dark. 

The  penciling  in  each  penciled  section  should  follow  the  gen- 
eral profile  of  the  feathers  and  consist  of  three  or  more  distinct 
pencilings  ;  each  feather  free  from  shafting ;  and  the  feathers  in 
each  penciled  section  to  be  a  rich  mahogany-brown,  penciled  with 
black. 

The  head  should  be  a  mahogany  brown ;  the  neck  feathers 
bright  red,  closely  matching  the  shade  of  color  desired  on  the 
neck  of  the  male ;  wing  bows,  back,  breast,  tail  coverts,  body, 
fluff  and  thighs  a  rich,  mahogany-brown,  penciled  with  black  ; 
the  wing  primaries  black,  with  an  edging  of  mahogany-brown 
on  the  outer  web ;  the  inner  web  of  the  secondaries,  black  ;  the 
outer  web,  mahogany-brown  penciled  with  black. 

The  main  tail  feathers  black,  except  that  the  two  top  feathers 
should  be  mahogany-brown  on  upper  edge.  (See  illustration, 
Plate  100.) 

Beak,  eyes,  comb,  face,  wattles,  ear-lobes,  shanks  and  toes 
should  be  the  same  color  as  that  required  for  the  male. 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  297 

Different  interpretations  will,  naturally,  be  placed  upon  such 
color  terms  as  reddish-bay  and  mahogany-brown,  but  on  the 
whole,  breeders,  exhibitors  and  judges  agree  very  well  as  to  the 
correct  and  incorrect  shades.  Lighter  shades  of  mahogany- 
brown  are,  of  course,  preferred  if  the  male  is  inclined  to  be  too 
dark,  and  darker  and  richer  shades  if  the  male  of  the  mating  is 
rather  too  light  or  bright.  Females  that  have  the  required 
number  of  distinct  pencilings  which  conform  closely  to  the  out- 
line of  the  feather  and  which  are  carried  out  in  detail  in  all 
sections,  particularly  in  body  and  thighs  in  which  the  penciling 
is  usually  the  weakest,  are  as  highly  prized  for  breeding  as  for 
exhibition  purposes,  and  even  more  so,  though  they  may  be  one 
or  two  shades  removed  from  the  shade  of  mahogany-brown  most 
accepted  as  ideal,  and  will  be  selected  for  the  best  matings. 

The  conclusion  will  be  rightly  drawn  that  such  matings  will 
produce  splendid  females,  but  there  must  exist  a  tendency  toward 
weak  hackle  and  saddle  striping  which  may  become  so  much  in 
evidence  that  the  high  quality  of  the  males  is  very  seriously 
impaired. 

In  that  case,  and  if  one  is  determined  to  breed  males  of  the 
highest  exhibition  merit,  special  matings  for  that  purpose  must 
be  employed.    (See  illustration,  Plate  101.) 

Of  the  male  for  this  mating  little  or  nothing  need  be  added 
to  the  description  in  the  Standard  of  Perfection  and  the  explana- 
tions already  offered  herein.  It  is  merely  necessary  to  repeat  the 
old  rule  so  often  repeated,  to  use  the  best  male  available ;  that 
is,  the  one  that  most  nearly  conforms  to  the  Standard  require- 
ments, other  qualities,  particular  lines  of  breeding  and  length 
of  the  breeding  lines  being  on  par.  This  means  one  with  a 
strongly  striped  saddle  as  well  as  hackle  and  solid,  lustrous  black 
breast,  body  and  wing-bar.    (See  illustration.  Pate  103.) 

The  females  selected  would,  of  course,  as  far  as  the  color  is 
considered,  be  those  which  had  particularly  rich,  red  color  and 
strength  of  black  striping  in  the  neck.  In  making  selections  for 
richness  of  color,  do  not  overlook  the  short,  small  feathers  under 
the  throat.  A  rich  color  or  medium  to  rather  rich  shade  is  very 
desirable  for  females  that  are  to  be  used  for  breeding  exhibition 
males  exclusively.    (See  illustration,  Plate  102.) 

A  Word  of  Caution. — "Two  dangers  must  be  avoided  if  we 
wish  to  succeed,  either  in  perfecting  or  improving  fancy  fowls. 


AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCf  \TfO\ 


I'l.YMO!  TTI  ROCK  STAXDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK 


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302  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

One  is  mating  those  with  the  same  defect,  and  the  other  is  going 
outside  of  a  strain  for  'new  blood.'  One  is  equally  as  disastrous 
as  the  other.  This  idea  of  getting  stock  of  absolutely  no  rela- 
tion to  the  fowls  with  which  they  are  to  be  mated  has  ruined 
more  good  flocks  than  we  at  first  imagine.  It  is  almost  a  custom, 
and  the  idea  that  it  is  necessary  is  prevalent,  even  among 
fanciers,  while  the  very  opposite  is  the  case.  Seldom,  although 
j^racticed  with  the  very  oldest  breeds,  will  matings  of  entirely 
different  strains  of  a  breed  produce  much  better  than  culls,  and 
their  progeny  is  very  inferior  foundation  stock.  Careful 
observation  and  experience  with  nearly  half  the  varieties  of 
pure-bred  poultry  convince  me  that  there  are  as  few  exceptions 
to  this  as  other  rules."    (S.  A.  Noftzger.) 

The  greater  the  difficulties  presented  by  a  variety  in  breeding, 
the  greater  the  care  should  be  to  i)ractice  the  above  principles 
of  breeding. 

As  to  Both  Sexes. — "There  is  no  question  but  that  some 
fanciers  select  their  fowls  of  this  breed  too  dark,  both  male  and 
female,  while  in  other  sections  of  the  country  the  color  of  both 
sexes  is  without  doubt  too  light.  There  is  a  rich,  bright,  medium 
color  for  the  male  and  an  exquisite,  glossy  mahogany  for  the 
female  that  should  be  universally  adopted,  and  when  all  become 
better  posted  in  this  respect,  the  high  color  of  the  'Beauty  Breed' 
will  be  more  ai)preciated."    (S.  A.  Noftzger.) 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  UTAl^DAED  AND  BREED  HOOK  303 


PLATE   103 


FEATHEES  FEOM  PARTRIDGE  PLYMOUTH  ROCK  MALE, 
USED  IN  BREEDING  EXHIBITION  MALES 

1.    Saddle  feathers.     Solid  black  stripe. 

2     Breast.     Solid  lustrous  black. 

.;.    Wing-bar.   Solid,  lustrous   greeuisli    black. 


304 


AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 
PLATE  104 


TYPES  OF  MODERN  i'AliTiinXJE  PLYAIOUTII   EOCKS 

Upper  right  hand,  a  Garden  winner. 

Other  models  furnished  by  State  Agricultural  College  of  Minnesota. 


SECTION     VII. 

CHAPTER  I. 

COLUMBIAN  PLYMOUTH  ROCKS 

ORIGIN    AND    EARLY    DEVELOPMENT 

THIS  and  the  Partridge  Plymouth  Rocks  are  the  latest 
among-  the  Plymouth  Rock  varieties  to  receive  Standard 
recognition.  By  accepting  the  variety  prefix  "Columbian," 
which  up  to  that  time  applied  only  to  the  variety  of  Wyandottes 
which  carries  the  same  color  scheme  as  the  Light  Brahma,  a 
term  was  established  that  is  now  universally  understood  to  be 
applicable  to  all  varieties  of  all  breeds  which,  now  or  will  here- 
after, bear  the  color  scheme  of  that  old  and  much  admired 
Asiatic  variety.  The  term  Columbian  had  already  been  applied 
to  a  variety  of  Wyandottes  which  made  their  first  appearance  in 
1893,  the  year  of  the  World's  Fair  at  Chicago,  known  as  the 
Columbian  Exposition,  was  in  progress  and  from  that  fact  the 
term  was,  seemingly,  appropriately  applied  to  this,  then  a  new 
variety. 

The  Incentive. — The  incentive  back  of  the  endeavor  to  effect 
a  creation  of  this  kind  in  life  is  apparent  to  all  who  understand 
poultry  problems.  It  was  but  another  attempt  to  transfer  beauti- 
ful plumage  to  a  type  that  had  already  proven  most  useful.  On 
the  one  hand  we  have  a  color  design  best  exemplified  by  the 
Light  Brahma  fowl,  the  plumage  of  which  is  a  wonderfully 
eff^ective  and  striking  combination  of  black  and  white.  All  con- 
cede its  wonderful  beauty  which  had  held  from  the  time  of  its 
introduction,  the  admiration  of  poultry  fanciers,  breeders  and  the 
public  generally,  yet  it  is  a  fowl  which  is  adaptable  to  special 
purposes  under  special  conditions.  It  is  the  largest  and  most 
magnificent  of  our  recognized  varieties,  but  it  is  known  that  the 
larger  the  fowl,  the  longer  the  time  required  for  maturity,  all 
conditions  being  the  same.  The  variety  did  not,  therefore,  meet 
the  demands  of  some  of  its  admirers  in  that  it  was  not  a  variety 
that  was  included,  commonly,  among  the  general-purpose  breeds. 
A  general  purpose  fowl  with  the  same  color  scheme  was  but  the 

305 


306  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

natural  desire  of  those  who  admired  the  plumage  of  the  Light 
Brahma.  On  the  other  hand,  then,  Plymouth  Rocks  had  proved 
their  worth  and,  popularity  as  such,  and  those  who  desired  a  gen- 
eral purpose  fowl  with  Light  Brahma  plumage,  naturally  thought 
of  a  Plymouth  Rock-Light  Brahma  combination  or  amalgama- 
tion. This  idea  can  hardly  be  called  purely  original,  inasmuch  as 
this  identical  task  had  been  before  successfully  accomplished  by 
breeders  of  Columbian  Wyandottes.  and  this  accomplishment 
may  have  convinced  Plymouth  Rock  admirers  that  the  same  color 
scheme  could  be  transferred  to  their  chosen  favorite.  We  have 
noticed,  heretofore,  that  the  later  Plymouth  Rock  varieties  did 
not  originate  as  early  as  the  corresponding  varieties  of  Wyan- 
dottes, as  well  as  the  fact  that  there  are  not  as  many  of  them. 
This  does  not,  necessarily,  indicate  a  lack  of  interest  or  initiative 
on  the  part  of  Plymouth  Rock  breeders  ;  it  may,  on  the  contrary, 
indicate  the  state  of  very  general  satisfaction  with  varieties 
already  existing. 

The  Foundation. — Seemingly,  the  most  direct  way  to  combine 
Light  Brahma  beauty  and  Plymouth  Rock  usefulness  was  to 
cross  the  Light  Brahma  and  White  Plymouth  Rock.  All  that  is 
desired  above  and  beyond  what  the  White  Plymouth  Rock 
already  had,  was  the  acquisition  of  black  in  certain  sections. 
With  this  acquisition,  some  very  undesirable  features  such  as 
the  Brahma  shape,  the  comb  too,  and  too  heavy  body  and  leg 
feathering  were  bound  to  be  transmitted  to  the  offspring  of  such 
a  cross  to  a  greater  or  less  extent  which  features  could,  of  course, 
be  eliminated  by  years  of  a  selective  breeding.  And  this  was 
the  process  by  which  the  variety  was  originated  and  in  part 
established.  There  was  some  doubt  as  to  whether  the  offspring 
of  such  crosses  could  be  so  mated  from  generation  to  generation 
as  to  gradually  eliminate  the  undesirable  features  and  at  the 
same  time  retain  those  qualities  that  were  so  much  sought  after. 
The  plan  was  feasible,  however,  even  though  perplexing  and  is 
the  process  by  which  certain  strains  were  originated  and  in  part 
established. 

Advantage  was  naturally  taken  of  the  pre-establishment  of 
Columbian  Wyandottes  and  the  fact  that  we  have  spasmodically, 
from  this,  as  from  all  rose  comb  varieties,  single  comb  sport= 
and,  as  if  nature  wished  to  assist,  some  of  these  were  much  more 
like  Plymouth  Rocks  than  like  Wyandottes.  Many  of  the 
Columbian  Rock  breeders  were  eager  to  secure  these  sports,  and 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  307 

their  frequent  occurrence  gave  many  opportunities  to  use  them 
in  crosses  with  lines  that  had  been  originated  in  the  manner 
described. 

Still  another  cross  was  used  to  establish  this  variety  with 
more  or  less  success.  This  was  the  cross  of  Barred  and  White 
Plymouth  Rocks.  The  results  when  the  cockerel-line  of  Barred 
Rocks  was  used  are  said  to  have  been  unsatisfactory,  but  good 
results  did  come  from  the  pullet-line  cockerels  mated  with  White 
Plymouth  Rock  females. 

The  Influence  of  the  Columbian  Wyandotte. — Seldom  is  it 
that  credit  for  the  creation  of  a  breed  or  variety  can  be  given 
to  one  individual.  Usually,  one  new  creation  in  the  poultry 
world  suggests  another  similar  in  many  respects,  but  unlike  in 
some,  to  the  first. 

This  Columbian  Plymouth  Rock  variety  probably  furnishes 
as  striking  an  instance  of  this  as  is  found  among  the  Standard 
varieties,  but  it  is  but  one  of  many,  and  in  no  way  differs  from 
the  many.  Columbian  Wyandottes  were  exhibited  nine  years 
before  the  first  cross  to  perpetuate  these  Plymouth  Rock  cousins 
was  made.  No  doubt  the  Columbian  Wyandotte  had  suggested 
the  possibility  of  a  Plymouth  Rock  of  the  same  color  pattern, 
long  before  the  suggestion  was  acted  upon  by  the  originators  of 
Columbian  Plymouth  Rocks.  Many  of  us  may  be  wondering 
hov/  Columbian  Leghorns  or  Columbian  Dorkings  or  scores  of 
other  varieties  would  look,  but  we  do  not  act  upon  this  sugges- 
tion until  we  are  confident  that  such  a  variety  will  be  worth 
while.  To  be  worth  while,  a  new  variety  must  be  better  in  one 
or  more  respects  than  those  that  are  already  established,  or 
handsomer.  It  must  be  admitted  that  most  of  our  new  varieties 
have  been  an  outcome  of  a  conviction  in  the  minds  of  one  or 
more  persons,  that  the  beauty  of  one  breed  can  be  combined  with 
the  usefulness  of  another.  By  the  creation  of  the  Columbian 
Wyandotte,  a  fowl,  much  smaller  but  yet  of  medium  size,  of 
good  laying  qualities,  with  smooth  legs  and  with  the  same 
color  pattern  as  the  Light  Brahma,  was  established,  btit  an  im- 
portant fact,  the  one  which  must  have  crystallized  the  sugges- 
tion of  a  new  variety  of  a  different  breed  along  these  lines  into 
an  actuality,  was  that  the  Columbian  Wyandotte  had  proved 
during  this  trial  decade  that  it  was  worth  while. 

Who  Was  the  Originator?— On  this  point  Mr.  D.  M.  Green, 
one  of  the  early  breeders  of  this  variety,  for  several  years  secre- 
tary of  the  Columbian   Plymouth   Rock   Club,   since  connected 


308  AMERICAN  POTLTRY  Af^f^OCfATION 

with  the  United  States  Bureau  of  Animal  Industry,  who  has 
access  to  most  of  the  manuscript  on  Cokmibian  Plymouth  Rocks, 
writes : 

"To  no  one  individual  is  due  all  the  credit,  as  it  is  a  conceded 
fact  that  several  fanciers,  and  not  any  one  particular  breeder, 
took  part  in  the  origin  and  early  development  of  the  variety. 
However,  to  Mr.  F.  M.  Clemans,  Mechanicsburg,  Ohio,  and  Mr. 
George  H.  Sweet,  East  Aurora,  New  York,  is  due  the  honor  of 
taking  the  first  steps  with  this  object  in  view,  Mr.  Clemans 
making  the  first  cross  in  1902  and  Mr.  Sweet  about  two  years 
later.  These  two  earnest  fanciers  were  the  pioneers,  although 
several  other  breeders  did  as  much  or  even  more  perhaps  in  per- 
fecting and  introducing  the  variety  to  the  public. 

The  Mr.  F.  M.  Clemans  of  Mechanicsburg,  Ohio,  mentioned 
in  the  above,  is  said  to  have  been  the  first  to  create  this  variety 
and  the  first  to  advertise  them.  Another  of  the  early  breeders 
claims  that  the  honor  of  originating  the  Columbian  Plymouth 
Rocks  belongs  to  several  who  actually  originated  this  variety 
by  crosses  of  their  own  selection.  These  selections  have  been 
previously  named  in  this  article. 


THE    EARLY    STRAINS 

Light  Plymouth  Rocks. — Mr.  Clemans,  however,  positively 
asserts  that  he  was  the  first  to  make  the  crosses  that  proved  to 
be  the  foundation  of  this  variety ;  and  these  crosses  antedate 
any  others  that  were  made  with  the  same  object  in  view,  and, 
in  justice  to  him,  it  must  be  said  that  no  one  seems  to  claim  a 
definite  date  prior  to  that  of  Mr.  Clemans'  first  cross.  You  will 
note  that  Mr.  Clemans  did  not  call  them  by  their  present  name, 
but  combined  the  names  of  the  original  parents  as  well  as  the 
blood.    We  quote  from  an  article  of  Mr.  Clemans'  as  follows : 

"As  the  date  of  my  original  crosses  takes  precedence  of  all 
others,  I  can  fairly  claim  to  be  the  originator  of  Columbian 
Plymouth  Rocks.  This  honor  is  practically  accorded  to  me  by 
the  latest  authoritative  work  on  The  Plymouth  Rocks,  published 
in  1911.  It  is  true  that  other  breeders  by  independent  crosses 
later  formed  other  strains  (and  I  have  no  desire  to  detract  from 
them),  but  my  crosses  of  1902  antedate  all  others.  Mr.  Sweet, 
practically  the  only  rival  for  the  honor,  did  not  begin  his  work 
until  1905.    1  was  also  the  first  to  introduce  the  breed.    This  was 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  309 

in  1907,  when  I  'brought  out'  the  breed  through  the  columns  of 
the  American  Poultry  Journal,  naming  them  'Light  Plymouth 
Rocks'  in  honor  of  their  Light  Brahma  Plymouth  Rock  origin. 
My  early  crosses  were  made  with  the  best  obtainable  blood  of 
the  Light  Brahma,  Barred  Plymouth  Rocks,  White  Plymouth 
Rocks  and  good  boned  Columbian  \\'yandottes.  I  also  used  at 
that  time  a  male  bird  of  unknown  origin,  but  almost  ideal  mark- 
ings which  I  was  so  fortunate  as  to  find  in  the  flock  of  a  friend. 
The  years  of  breeding  have  since  obliterated  undesirable  mark- 
ings of  the  original  blood  used,  and  I  have  been  signally  suc- 
cessful in  holding  to  the  true  Plymouth  Rock  type.  This  has 
been  the  aim  in  my  breeding — to  secure  real  Rock  type  and  com- 
bine it  with  the  beautiful  and  much  desired  color  of  the  Light 
Brahma." 

Type  Important  in  Early  Columbians. — How  great  impor- 
tance Mr.  Clemans  attached  to  true  Plymouth  Rock  type — that 
is,  the  large-boned  sort,  in  distinction  to  fine-boned  birds  obvi- 
ously of  Wyandotte  origin,  is  well  brought  out  by  the  following 
extract  taken  from  a  report  of  the  Philadelphia  (1911)  show: 

"The  'Columbian'  Plymouth  Rocks  shown  by  the  originator 
show  the  results  he  has  attained  in  establishing  his  Big-Boned 
Rock  type  of  Columbian  Rocks.  His  first  and  third  cocks,  each 
weighing  10^-2  pounds,  were  regular  models  in  Rock  type,  also 
showing  grand  color.  His  cockerel  weighed  9  pounds,  was  also  a 
rare  beauty  and  a  most  desirable  bird.  His  pen,  with  cock 
weighing  11  pounds  and  hens  from  7^  to  83^  pounds  each,  was 
a  rare  collection  of  the  best  of  quality ;  in  fact,  we  were  much 
pleased  to  see  this  size  with  excellent  color  and  very  choice 
shape." 

The  following  discussion  of  type  should  be  accredited  to  Mr. 
Clemans :  "The  value  of  Rock  type  cannot  be  too  strongly  em- 
phasized. It  is  even  more  important  than  color.  The  beginner 
must  avoid  being  led  into  the  purchase  of  the  modern  Wyan- 
dotte 'sports.'  The  popularity  of  Columbian  Rocks  has  brought 
upon  the  market  these  little  imitations  of  the  breed.  Some  of 
them  are  bred  by  unscrupulous  breeders  who  wish  to  get  money 
out  of  the  demand  for  the  breed  and  then  drop  out.  Others  are 
being  bred  and  sold  by  amateurs  who  know  no  better.  The 
breeding  of  such  stock  can  only  end  in  disappointment. 


310  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

"It  is  true  that  there  is  some  Wyandotte  blood  in  all  good 
strains,  but  it  was  combined  with  the  Brahma  and  Rock  blood 
and  produced  quite  a  different  fowl  from  the  modern  'sport.' 
The  true  Rock  type  of  the  breed  is  'a  thing  of  beauty.'  Its  popu- 
larity is  perfectly  assured.  The  demand  for  good  specimens  will 
be  on  a  rising  scale  for  years  to  come.  Already  I  have  sold  ex- 
ceptionally fine  male  birds  as  high  as  $100.00.  While  this  is  a 
phenomenal  price  for  a  new  breed  it  will  be  greatly  exceeded  for 
choice  specimens  in  the  future,  just  as  it  has  been  in  the  older 
breeds." 

The  above  is  printed  to  indicate  the  conditions  at  the  time. 
These  statements  show  clearly  and  convincingly  that  there  was 
a  tendency  to  use  Wyandotte  sports,  which  was  perhaps  legiti- 
mate, if  used  judiciously  and  not  over  practiced  because  type 
must  then  be  destroyed.  That  this  expediency  was  practiced  to 
the  detriment  of  the  breed  as  a  breed  for  a  time,  there  can  be  no 
doubt.  There  was,  however,  the  usual  reaction  against  an  unwise 
practice.  The  advertisements  of  the  leading  breeders  of  the 
early  period  just  following  their  admission  to  Standard  clearly 
bring  out  the  disrepute  in  which  strains  that  showed  the  eft'ects 
of  a  Wyandotte  cross  were  held.  The  breeders  of  Columbian 
Wyandottes  had  for  a  short  period  reaped  a  harvest  on  their 
single-comb  sports  that  was  quite  remunerative,  perhaps  as  much 
so  as  on  the  specimens  that  came  true  to  lineage.  The  writer 
once  heard  a  prominent  breeder  of  Columbian  Wyandottes  de- 
clare, upon  being  asked  as  to  the  future  of  the  Columbian 
Plymouth  Rocks,  that  the  only  purpose  of  that  variety  was  to 
absorb  the  single-comb  Wyandotte  sports  at  a  price.  That 
profitable  period,  as  pointed  out,  was  passed  when  Columbian 
Plymouth  Rocks  became  as  well  established  as  their  older  rivals. 

The  Royal  Strain. — The  Mr.  Green  referred  to  in  a  preceding 
paragraph  was  one  of  the  very  first  l^reeders  and  gives  the  fol- 
lowing account  of  how  his  strain,  afterwards  called  the  "Royal," 
was  built  up  from  the  original  cross  of  Light  Brahma  and 
Plymouth  Rocks.  It  is  the  plan  for  a  foundation  to  which  refer- 
ence was  made  in  Mr.  Green's  own  language,  written  into  this 
copy  as  "feasible,  even  if  perplexing" ;  namely,  of  adhering  to 
the  straight  cross  of  Light  Brahma  and  White  Plymouth  Rock, 
as  the  following  account  clearly  relates  : 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  311 

"The  first  crosses  and  the  results  obtained  were  as  follows : 
Light  Brahma  males  with  strong  markings  were  mated  to  extra 
large  White  Plymouth  Rock  females  with  small,  well-defined 
combs,  bright,  clean  yellow  legs  and  true  Rock  type.  The  result 
was  large,  vigorous,  sturdy  youngsters  with  no  particular  fixed 
type  or  color  markings  to  any  certain  degree,  yet  Rock  type 
predominated  and  the  Brahma  color  in  many  specimens  showed 
clearly  that  it  was  firmly  seated.  There  was  a  variety  of  combs 
and  feathered  shanks  were  a  prominent  defect,  but  some  few 
male  birds  were  exceptional  specimens  showing  the  latter  fault 
in  only  a  moderate  degree  and  with  color  nearly  equal  to  their 
sires.  These  males  were  mated  in  two  ways,  back  to  their  dame, 
which  were  designated  as  Flock  A,  and  to  the  best  pullets 
selected  from  the  original  cross,  which  were  designated  as  Flock 
B.  Flock  A  produced  birds  especially  good  in  type,  good  comb 
and  fairly  clean  shanks,  but  weak  in  color  of  hackle,  wing  and 
tail.  The  offspring  from  Flock  B  averaged  good  in  color,  show- 
ing exceptionally  strong  hackles  and  tails,  but  with  poor  combs, 
type  and  more  leg  feathers.  The  next  mating  consisted  of  the 
more  desirable  specimens  reared  from  Flocks  A  and  B ;  also 
pullets  from  Flock  A  back  to  the  best  male  from  the  original 
cross.  The  specimens  from  these  matings  showed  a  decided 
improvement,  some  individuals  having  clean  legs  with  good  type 
and  color  and  quite  even,  well  balanced  combs.  At  this  point 
the  best  specimens  were  still  far  from  what  was  desired,  yet  it 
was  evident  that  the  new  variety  had  been  created." 

We  have,  then,  clear  and  authentic  accounts  of  the  different 
sources  of  the  foundation  stock  of  this  variety.  They  are,  as 
nearly  as  we  can  determine,  principally  Light  Brahmas  and 
White  Plymouth  Rocks,  with  a  strong  influence  of  single-combed 
Columbian  Wyandotte  Sports  and  a  somewhat  less  influence  of 
Barred  Plymouth  Rock  blood.  Besides  these  established  lines 
of  blood  we  have  the  unknown  male  of  Mr.  Clemans'  that  in 
some  unaccountable  way  betook  to  himself  very  much  the  ap- 
pearance of  the,  as  yet,  unestablished  ideal. 

After  the  variety  reached  a  stage  wliere  a  general  interchange 
of  birds  occurs  between  breeders  of  the  different  strains,  it 
became  impossible  to  trace  blood  lines.  Accounts  must  then  re- 
late the  progress  of  the  breeds  as  to  quality,  popularity,  etc. 


312  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

CHAPTER  II. 
COLUMBIAN  PLYMOUTH  ROCK  PLUMAGE 

STANDARD    DESCRIPTION 

Disqualifications 

One  or  more  solid  black  or  brown  feathers  on  surface  of 
back  of  females ;  positive  black  spots  prevalent  in  web  of  feathers 
of  back  except  slight  dark  or  black  stripes  in  saddle  near  tail  of 
male  or  in  cape  of  either  sex ;  red  feathers  in  plumage ;  shanks 
other  than  yellow.  (See  general  and  Plymouth  Rock  disquali- 
fications.) 

COLOR    OF    MALE 

Head. — Plumage,  white. 

Beak. — Yellow,  with  dark  stripe  down  upper  mandible. 

Eyes. — Reddish-bay. 

Comb,  Face,  Wattles  and  Ear-Lobes. — Bright  red. 

Neck. — Hackle,  web  of  feather  solid,  lustrous  greenish-black 
with  a  narrow  edging  of  white,  uniform  in  width,  extending 
around  point  of  feather ;  greater  portion  of  shaft,  black ;  plumage 
in  front  of  hackle,  white. 

Wings. — Bows,  white  except  fronts,  which  may  be  partly 
black ;  coverts,  white ;  primaries,  black,  with  white  edging  on 
lower  edge  of  lower  webs ;  secondaries,  lower  portion  of  lower 
webs,  white,  sufficient  to  secure  a  white  wing-bay,  the  white 
extending  around  ends  of  feathers  and  lacing  upper  portion  of 
upper  webs,  this  color  growing  wider  in  the  shorter  secondaries, 
sufficient  to  show  white  on  surface  when  wing  is  folded ;  re- 
mainder of  each  secondary,  black. 

Back. — Surface  color,  white ;  cape,  black  and  white ;  saddle, 
white,  except  feathers  covering  root  and  sides  of  tail,  which 
should  be  white  with  a  narrow  V-shaped  black  stripe  at  end  of 
each  feather  tapering  to  a  point  near  its  lower  extremity. 

Tail. — Black  ;  the  curling  feathers  underneath,  black  laced 
with  white ;  sickles  and  coverts,  lustrous  greenish-black ;  smaller 
coverts,  lustrous  greenish-black  edged  with  white. 

Breast. — Surface,  white  ;  undercolor  bluish-white,  at  juncture 
with  body,  bluish-slate. 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  313 

Body  and  Fluff. — Body,  white,  except  under  wings,  where  it 
may  be  bluish-white ;  fluff,  white. 

Legs  and  Toes. — -Thighs,  white;  shanks  and  toes,  yellow. 
Undercolor  of  All  Sections  Except  Breast. — Bluish-slate. 

COLOR    OF    FEMALE 

Head. — Plumage,  white. 

Beak. — Yellow,  with  dark  stripe  down  upper  mandible. 

Eyes. — Reddish-bay. 

Comb,  Face,  Wattles  and  Ear-Lobes. — Bright  red. 

Neck. — Feathers  beginning  at  juncture  of  head,  web,  a  broad, 
solid  lustrous  greenish-black,  with  a  narrow  lacing  of  white 
extending  around  the  outer  edge  of  each  feather ;  greater  portion 
of  shaft,  black ;  feathers  in  front  of  neck,  white. 

Wings. — Bows,  white ;  coverts,  white ;  primaries,  black,  with 
white  edging  on  lower  edge  of  lower  webs ;  secondaries,  lower 
portion  of  lower  webs,  white,  sufficient  to  secure  a  white  wing- 
bay,  the  white  extending  around  the  ends  and  lacing  upper  por- 
tion of  upper  webs,  this  color  growing  wider  in  the  shorter 
secondaries,  sufficient  to  show  white  on  surface  when  wing  is 
folded ;  remainder  of  each  secondary,  black. 

Back. — White ;  cape,  black  and  white. 

Tail. — Black,  except  the  two  top  feathers  which  are  laced 
with  white ;  coverts,  black  with  a  narrow  lacing  of  white. 

Breast.- — Surface,  white ;  undercolor  bluish-white,  at  juncture 
of  body,  bluish-slate. 

Body  and  Fluff. — Body,  white,  except  under  wings  where  it 
may  be  bluish-white ;  fluff,  white. 

Legs  and  Toes. — Thighs,  white ;  shanks  and  toes,  yellow. 

Undercolor  of  All  Sections  Except  Breast. — Bluish-slate. 

COLOR  OF  COLUMBIAN  PLYMOUTH  ROCKS 

A  chapter  under  this  heading  will,  as  a  matter  of  course,  be 
expected  to  discuss  defects  of  both  color  and  markings  when 
dealing  with  parti-colored  varieties. 

The  Color. — Both  male  and  female  of  this  variety  have  but 
two  colors,  white  mainly,  with  markings  of  black  in  certain  sec- 
tions. In  all  sections  where  white  is  required,  a  surface  of  clear, 
pure  white  is  desired  and  required.  The  black  should  be  a 
positive  black  in  all  sections  where  required.  The  black  strip- 
ing of  the  neck,  tail-coverts  and  sickles  should  have  that  beau- 


314 


AMENJCAX  J'OLJ/rRY  At^l^OCIATION 


PLATE  IOC 


COLUMBIAN    PLYMOFTH    ROOK    i\rALE 


PLYMOUTH  ROVK  .STANDARD  AND  BREED  HOOK  :n5 


PLATE   106 


COLUMBIAN   PLYMOUTH  EOCK  FEMALE 


31G  AMERICAN  POULTRY  AStiOCIATION 

tiful  green  gloss  which  sets  off  the  white  section  to  so  much  ad- 
vantage. The  black  of  the  flights,  secondaries  and  main  tail 
feathers  has  no  greenish  sheen  as  a  rule,  which  is,  moreover, 
not  required.  Strong,  positive  black  is  necessary  to  give  quality 
to  the  specimen  and  it  must  be  borne  in  mind  at  all  times  that 
strength  of  color  is  always  required.  Black  sometimes  fades  or 
rusts ;  that  is,  instead  of  being  positive  in  character,  it  loses  the 
intensity  necessary  to  be  so  classified  in  the  list  of  colors.  That 
color  which  the  Standard  would  call  black,  or  positive  black,  is 
sometimes  described  as  coal  black.  The  shade  of  black  thus  de- 
scribed is  the  shade  usually  referred  to  in  the  Standard,  when  it 
does  not  specifically  mention  a  lustrous,  greenish-black.  Some- 
times, black  will  take  on  a  luster  of  bronze  and  sometimes  of 
purple,  neither  of  which  is  desirable. 

The  black  found  in  the  plumage  of  the  Columbian  varieties 
has  not  so  often  the  character  of  defects  enumerated  above  as  a 
general  weakness  because  of  an  admixture  of  white.  Often, 
feathers  that  should  be  black  are  only  partially  black ;  often,  the 
portion  of  a  feather  that  should  be  black  is  broken  with  a  bar 
or  a  splash  of  white  or  gray,  while  again,  an  admixture  of  a  cer- 
tain amount  of  white  makes  a  dark  gray  or  slate  colored  feather 
or  part  of  a  feather,  rather  than  a  black. 

The  white  portion  of  the  plumage  on  the  surface  is  supposed 
to  be  a  pure  white ;  though,  perhaps,  a  clear  white  expresses  the 
idea  better.  Owing  to  the  difficulty  of  obtaining  the  amount 
and  intensity  of  black  desired  in  neck,  primaries,  secondaries, 
tail-coverts,  etc.,  white  undercolor,  even  in  the  sections  that  are 
described  as  white  on  the  surface,  is  not  desirable.  On  the  con- 
trary, because  of  the  difficulty  of  maintaining  the  intensity  of  the 
black  in  those  sections  in  which  black  is  required,  and  also,  in 
order  that  black  may  be  distributed  in  the  right  proportion  in 
these  sections,  slate  of  a  stronger  or  lighter  shade  is  required  in 
the  undercolor  of  all  the  sections,  even  in  those  which  are  pure 
white  on  the  surface.  In  all  sections  except  breast,  the  shade  of 
slate  required  is  of  sufficient  intensity  to  be  described  as  bluish- 
slate,  while  that  of  the  breast  is  bluish-white,  a  lighter  shade  of 
slate.  That  is  natural  because  the  breast,  when  both  sexes  are 
considered,  is  collectively  the  purest  white  section  of  the  bird, 
and  farthest  remo\ed  from  the  tail,  the  section  that  sliould  con- 
tain  the   most    black.      By   this   means   alone   can   the   lustrous 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  317 

greenish-black  striping  of  the  hackle,  neck,  sickles  and  tail- 
coverts  of  both  sexes  be  produced  and  maintained  from  genera- 
tion to  generation. 

An  understanding  of  the  color  faults  and  excellencies  of  each 
of  the  principal  sections  is  necessary  in  order  that  the  breeder 
may  mate  his  birds  in  a  manner  that  will  produce  satisfactory 
results.  Therefore,  a  discussion  of  these  features  will  be  entered 
into  in  some  detail. 

Neck  of  Males. — Because  of  its  beauty  when  approaching  the 
ideal  in  color  and  markings,  and  the  difficulty  encountered  in 
breeding  the  neck  feathers  to  such  an  approximation  of  the  ideal 
that  they  can  be  called  beautiful,  this  section  when  it  possesses 
quality  enough  to  deserve  it,  is  very  much  appreciated  and  is, 
therefore,  very  important. 

The  Black  Stripe. — The  Standard  calls  for  feathers  of  "solid, 
lustrous,  greenish-black,  with  a  narrow  edging  of  white,  uniform 
in  width,  extending  around  the  point  of  the  feather" ;  in  other 
words,  this  calls,  as  former  Standards  have  stated  it,  for  a  "solid, 
lustrous  greenish-black  stripe  down  the  center  of  the  feather 
and  with  a  narrow,  white  border  extending  around  the  point  of 
the  feather." 

From  this  description  it  would  be  easy  to  infer  that  the  black 
must  not  be  dull  and  lifeless,  neither  must  it  have  a  brown 
shading ;  it  must  not  be  broken,  at  least  near  the  surface,  because 
if  any  of  these  attributes  are  present,  the  description  of  the 
Standard,  i.  e.,  solid,  lustrous,  greenish-black,  is  not  complied 
with. 

The  Border. — As  to  the  border,  this  should  be  white  above 
all  things.  Straw  color  or  brassy  shades  are  not  tolerated  and, 
if  present,  should  be  cut  so  severely  that  the  class  in  which  a 
specimen  with  this  fault  can  win  must  be  a  very  inferior  one, 
indeed.  Besides,  the  border  must  be  narrow.  Narrow  is,  of 
course,  used  comparatively.  It  refers  to  the  border  according  to 
the  Standard  description,  and  as  the  remainder  of  the  feather  is 
black,  the  black  stripe  in  the  center  must  be  relatively  broad. 
Such  are  the  ideals  of  the  present  time ;  a  broad,  black  stripe 
edged  with  a  narrow  white  border. 

The  white  border  should  extend  around  the  point  from  both 
sides  of  the  feather.  This  results  in  a  feather  with  a  white 
border  around  a  V-shape  point  of  black,  near  the  lower  extremity 
of  this  feather,  but  not  at  the  extremity.  This  is  one  of  the 
difficult  features  to  establish,  because  there  is  a  strong  tendency 
for  the  black  to  run  through  the  border  to  the  point   of   the 


AMERrCAX  POTLTRY  ASf<OriATIOy 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  .S'T.l  .V/M /<•/)  AND  BREED  BOOK  319 

feather ;  first,  just  on  the  shaft,  perhaps.  Then,  with  this  ten- 
dency, is  one  to  extend  along  the  very  outer  edges  of  the  feather. 
Thus,  we  have  a  black  tip  and  a  narrow  black  edge  outside  the 
white  border.  Such  a  defective  feather  is  shown  in  Plate  107, 
Figure  2,  while  Figure  1  shows  weak  black  striping,  with  a  white 
shaft  and  a  border  that  is  too  wide  and  with  it.  of  course,  a 
black  stripe  that  is  too  narrow. 

The  light  shafting  noticed  in  this  figure  is  also  defective 
inasmuch  as  the  Standard  states,  "greater  portion  of  the  shaft, 
black."  The  third  feather  in  the  row  is  a  good  natural  feather, 
but  even  in  this,  the  black  extends  too  low  or  too  near  the  point. 
The  fourth  feather  from  the  left  in  the  row  shows  very  nearly 
the  ideal  feather.  Feathers  in  front  of  neck  are  white,  the  same 
as  the  breast. 

Neck  of  the  Females. — The  neck  feathers  of  the  female  are 
shorter  and  comparatively  broader  than  those  of  the  male.  The 
black  center  is  also  broader  and  the  white  border  narrower  com- 
paratively. Such  a  comparison  between  the  male  and  female 
neck  feathers  is  found  to  exist  in  a  great  majority  of  specimens 
of  this  variety  and  such  the  Standard  calls  for,  as  the  word 
"broad"  occurs  in  the  Standard  description  of  the  neck  of  the 
female  and  this  word  is  not  found  in  the  description  of  necks  of 
the  male.  Narrow  black  striping  with  the  V  instead  of  the 
rounded  points  are  frequently  seen  in  the  neck  feathers  of 
females  and,  though  not  strictly  in  accordance  with  the  Standard 
description,  are  to  be  much  preferred  to  striping  that,  though 
broad,  is  weak  in  color.  The  pkunage  of  this  section  of  the 
females  is  very  striking  because  of  the  broad,  metallic  black 
with  the  very  narrow  but  sound  edging  of  pure  white.  A  per- 
fect resemblance  between  both  the  pattern  and  the  color  of  the 
neck  and  tail-coverts  of  the  females  is  a  noteworthy  and  taking 
feature  when  ideals  are  approached.    (See  illustration,  Plate  117.) 

Cape. — The  cape,  or  that  portion  of  the  back  that  falls  under 
the  hackle  feathers  of  the  male  and  the  neck  feathers  of  the 
female,  is  black  and  white.  This  portion  of  the  back  is  not  seen 
when  the  bird  stands  in  its  natural  position  and  on  that  account 
it  draws  less  attention  than  other  parts  of  the  plumage.  The 
feathers  have,  as  a  rule,  a  broad  black  center  with  white  edging. 
The  exact  proportion  of  black  to  white  is  not  as  rigidly  pre- 
scribed or  enforced  as  in  the  more  prominent  sections,  but  if  the 
edging  is  narrow,  yet  clear  and  sound,  the  feathers  in  the  cape 


320 


AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASl^OCIATION 


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322  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

correspond   more   closely   to   the   description   of   neck   and   tail- 
coverts  than  when  not  so  proportioned. 

The  Back. — The  back  proper  of  both  sexes  is  white  on  the 
surface.  The  importance  placed  upon  this  requirement  is  em- 
phasized by  the  color  disqualifications  for  this  section  in  both 
sexes,  as  two  out  of  the  three  disqualifications  named  apply  to 
the  back  only  of  male  or  female.  "One  or  more  solid  black  or 
brown  feathers  on  surface  of  the  back  of  females ;  positive  black 
spots  prevalent  in  web  of  feathers  of  back  except  slight  dark  or 
black  stripes  in  saddle  near  tail  of  males  or  in  cape  of  either 
sex ;"  these  requirements  must  give  the  reader  a  very  clear  idea 
of  the  importance  of  a  clear  white  surface  in  this  section,  that  is, 
the  entire  back  of  female  from  the  rear  of  the  cape  to  the  front 
of  the  tail-coverts  ;  and  the  same  for  males,  except  for  the  slight 
dark  striping  in  lower  part  of  the  saddle  hanger,  "covering  the 
root  and  sides  of  the  tail." 

The  clause  which  requires  this  particular  form  of  saddle 
striping  in  those  feathers  that  cover  root  and  sides  of  tail  is  a 
new  one  that  was  first  introduced  in  the  1915  Standard.  It  was 
not  found  in  the  1910  Revised  Edition.  A  clause  of  similar  im- 
port is  found  in  both  the  1898  and  1905  Editions,  as  follows  in 
the  latter,  relating  to  Light  Brahmas,  the  plumage  of  which  is 
acknowledged  to  be  the  plumage  after  which  that  of  the  Colum- 
bian is  patterened  in  all  details,  except  leg  plumage,  which  has 
been,  of  course,  obliterated.  "Saddle  white,  except  where  saddle 
hangers  take  on  the  character  of  tail-coverts  which,  if  black  in 
the  web  and  laced  with  white,  shall  not  be  considered  defective  ;" 
which,  though  not  actually  demanding  black  stripes  in  the  rear 
and  lower  saddle  feathers,  clearly  permitted  them,  and  unques- 
tionably for  the  reason  that  is  advanced  for  requiring  the  same 
now,  namely :  that  better  black  points,  especially  the  tail-coverts, 
may  be  obtained  in  both  sexes,  and  a  more  perfect  blending  of 
back  and  tail  color  is  thereby  obtained. 

That  such  saddle  striping  in  the  males  will  and  does  produce 
the  black  feather  or  feathers  that  are  pronouncedly  spotted  with 
black  or  dark  color  approaching  black  in  the  back  of  the 
female,  most  of  the  best  authorities  deny ;  that  is,  if  the  char- 
acter of  such  black  striping  is  as  described  in  the  Standard, 
"with  a  narrow  V-shaped  black  stripe  at  the  end  of  each  feather, 
tapering  to  a  point  near  its  lower  extremity."  Obviously  a 
"V-shaped  black  stripe"  is  not  the  solid,  lustrous,  greenish-black 
stripe  of  the  hackle.     This  description  would  signify  a  pointed 


Pf.YMOTTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  H23 

or  narrow  \'-shaped  center  of  white,  inside  the  black  stripe  at 
the  upper  end ;  and  this  particular  stripe  must  have  the  border 
as  the  clause,  "tapering  to  a  point  near  its  lower  extremity" 
would  signify,  because  otherwise,  the  black  stripe  would  termin- 
ajte  at  the  extremity.  Two  saddle  feathers  are  shown,  Plate  108, 
the  first  one  weak  in  striping,  and  the  second  an  ideal  or  nearly 
ideal  feather. 

It  will  be  observed  that  this  stripe  has  not  the  same  character 
as  the  saddle  stripe  of  the  males  of  other  parti-colored  varieties 
and  does  not,  as  stated  above,  correspond  in  the  pattern  to  the 
hackle  striping  of  parti-colored  males  of  this  or  of  other  vari- 
eties. The  hackles  and  saddles  of  all  other  varieties  of  Plymouth 
Rocks  do,  however,  correspond  as  to  color  patterns. 

Between  the  upper  termination  of  the  V-shaped  stripe  and 
the  bluish  slate  of  the  undercolor,  a  white  band  of  greater  or 
less  width  should  intervene.  This  is  desired  because  it  is  consid- 
ered that  if  the  stripe  extends  to  the  slate  of  the  undercolor,  the 
male  that  carries  it  will  throw  females  with  black  on  the  surface 
of  the  backs.  This  is  demanded,  not  only  as  a  point  of  indi- 
vidual exhibition  merit,  but  as  a  safeguard  in  breeding.  A  better 
and  clearer  idea  of  how  the  feathers  of  the  back  and  saddle  very 
gradually  acquire  the  character  of  the  tail  feathers  is  shown  by 
the  series  of  six  feathers  in  Plate  109,  1  from  center  of  back,  2 
small  saddles,  3  saddle,  4  tail-covert,  5  large  tail-covert,  6  smaller 
sickle.  All  are  ideal  or  nearly  ideal  feathers  for  the  positions 
on  the  back  and  tail  which  they  occupied. 

The  Wings. — The  fronts,  wdiite  except  that  portion  which  is 
covered  with  breast  feathers  which  may  be  partly  black.  The 
bows,  coverts,  and  outside  of  the  secondaries  are  white ;  when 
spread,  both  primaries  and  secondaries  should  show  black.  With 
the  exception  of  a  narrow  edge  of  white  on  lower  web,  each  pri- 
mary should  be  solid  black.  Such  flights  are  hard  to  produce 
because  a  mixture  of  white  with  black  in  one  or  more  of  various 
ways  is  but  natural  in  a  variety  that  has  a  predominance  of  white 
in  its  plumage ;  splashes  of  white  very  often  occur  in  the  center 
of  the  upper  or  broader  web  of  flight  feathers,  as  shown  in  Plate 
110,  feather  No.  1,  while  gray  splashes  near  the  end  of  the 
feather  and  white  at  the  base  are  faults  that  are  frequently  seen. 
The  latter  two  defects  are  shown  in  Plate  110,  feather  No.  2, 
white  feather  No.  3  shows  the  white  at  base,  which  is  a  defect, 
though  it  is,  on  the  whole  an  illustration  of  a  very  good  feather. 


324 


i.i//;/.'/r  1  V  j'oi  i/rrn  associ ATioy 


PLATE   110 


COLUMBIAN    PLYMOUTH    EOCKS,    WING  T'EIAFARY 
irP^ATHERS    OF    DIFFERENT    INDIVIDUALS 

1.     Old   style,  too   light  in   color.      2.     Dark   but  gray   m-ar   end 
white  at  root.     3.     Correct,  excepting  white  at  root.     4.     Idealized. 


PLYMOriTH  HOCK  STAM)  I /.'/>    1  V/>  BREED  BOOK  :?2fi 


PLATE   111 


1  2  :J  ■; 

COLUMBIAN   PLYMOUT}!    KOCKS,    WING    HECONDAKIES 

1.  Old  style,  too  liglit. 

2.  Too  mucli  white  at  tip. 
l^.  Too  much  white  at  root. 
4.  Ideal    (natural). 


326 


AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 


Feather  No.  4  shows  an  idealized  flight  feather  from  a  male, 
from  which  sex  are  taken  all  these  flight  feathers,  which  show 
the  improvement  of  a  period  of  fifteen  or  twenty  years,  as  at  that 
period  feather  No.  1  was  a  very  good  flight  feather  indeed.  The 
improvement  during  the  period  is  shown  l^y  comparing  feathers 
No.  1  and  No.  4. 


PLATE   11: 


(COLUMBIAN    PLYMOUTH    KOCKH,   MALL,   8MALLLR 

8T(1KLL8,  ])P:FECTIVE  AND  CORRECT,  FROM 

DIFFERENT  INDIVIDUALS 

1.    Glo.ssy  black,  with  white  at  root.     2.     White  breaking  across  the 
center.     ,3.     Idealized. 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  327 

The  upper  web  of  the  secondary  feathers,  that  is,  the  nearer 
web  to  the  body,  is  supposed  to  be  black,  while  the  lower  or 
outer  web  should  be  white.  As  the  body  is  approached  the  pro- 
portion of  black  in  the  upper  web  diminishes  and  the  white 
increases,  so  that  the  wing  shows  only  white  when  folded  or,  to 
localize  the  description  still  more,  the  wing-bay  is  white.  Previ- 
ous Standards  have  described  secondaries  in  these  words:  "Sec- 
ondaries, lower  portion  of  lower  web,  white,  sufficient  to  secure 
a  white  wing-bay,  the  white  extending  around  the  ends  of 
feathers  and  lacing  upper  portion  of  web,  this  color  growing 
wider  in  shorter  secondaries,  the  five  next  to  body  being  white 
on  surface  when  wing  is  folded;  remainder  of  each  secondary, 
black."  This  description,  though  laborious  and  encumbered 
somewhat  by  phraseology,  will,  nevertheless,  be  found  to  be 
accurate  upon  analysis.  From  it  might  be  deduced  the  fact  that 
the  amount  of  black  in  the  secondaries  is  relatively  proportionate 
to  the  length  of  the  feather,  the  shorter  ones  next  to  the  body 
being  white  or  having  a  lesser  amount  of  black  than  those  that 
are  larger  and  more  remote.  Black,  however,  whatever  the 
extent,  should  be  black  and  not  a  modified  shade  of  that  color. 
Where  the  secondaries,  or  primaries  for  that  matter,  are  black 
they  should  be  black,  and  where  white  is  required,  white  that  is 
nowise  modified  should  be  found.  Furthermore,  between  the 
two,  a  sharp  line  of  definition  should  exist.  Feather  No.  2  in 
l^late  111,  the  second  feather  from  the  left,  shows  gray  shading 
in  with  the  white,  also  too  much  white  at  the  end  of  the  feather 
for  a  secondary  near  the  center  of  the  wing;  the  third  feather 
from  the  left,  too  much  white  at  the  base ;  the  fourth  is  an  ideal 
secondary  near  the  center  of  the  wing.  The  flights  of  the  males 
as  a  usual  occurrence  are  stronger  in  color,  that  is,  the  black  is 
more  perfectly  distributed  than  in  the  flights  of  the  females. 
Flights  splashed  with  white  are,  then,  much  more  seriously 
defective  in  males  than  in  females  and  in  the  young  than  in  the 
old  females. 

Tail. — The  main  tail  feathers  of  both  sexes  should  be  black 
from  top  to  base ;  often,  of  course,  white  creeps  in,  but  compara- 
tively little  difficulty  is  experienced  in  this  particular.  The  real 
difficulty  lies  in  another  direction,  to  produce  tail-coverts  of 
lustrous  greenish-black  with  narrow  lacing  or  edging  of  white. 
Particularly  in  the  females  it  is  difficult  to  breed  the  black 
entirelv  across   these  broad  coverts  and   maintain   the   uniform 


328 


AMERICAN  POULTRY  A^f^OCIATION 
PLATE   113 


COLTIMBIAN    I'LYMOUTH    EOCKS,    UNDERCOLOR    OF    AN 
EXHIBITION   MALE 

L  Center  of   breast,  white   without   bluish   wliite   undercolor. 

2.  Near  center  of  breast,  id?al  bluish  white  undercolor. 

;5.  Breast  near  wing,  with  very  dark   bluish   slate  undercolor. 

4.  Middle   of   black,   bluish   white    und?icolf)r. 

5.  Body,  bluish  white  undercolor. 

PLATE   114 


12  3  4  r, 

FEMALE,   CORRESPONDING   TO   SECTIONS   IN   ABOVE   MALE 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  HTAA'DARD  AND  BREED  BOOK 


•32\) 


strength  of  color  and  lustre.  It  is  also  some  task  to  maintain 
the  very  narrow  edging  so  much  sought  and  keep  both  colors 
well  defined,  generation  after  generation.  Very  similar  in  color 
and  pattern,  but  lacking  somewhat  in  the  lustre  of  black  portions 
are  the  broad,  curly  feathers  at  the  rear  of  and  between  the 
main  tail  feathers. 

These  smaller  sickles  are  shown  on  Plate  112;  feather  No.  1 
is  defective  because  of  white  on  base ;  No.  2,  defective  because 
of  splashes  of  white ;  No.  3,  ideal. 

BreaS',  Body  and  Fluff. — These  sections  of  both  sexes  should 
be  pure  white  on  the  surface,  but  show  the  bluish-slate  under- 
neatli.  It  is  highly  desirable  that  they  do  so,  because  with  this 
slate  undercolor  lacking  in  all  sections  of  white  surface,  color 
points  arc  sure  to  be  weak,  losing  thereby  the  chief  beauty  of  the 

PLATE  115 


COLUMBIAN    PLYAIOI'TH   KOCK,   MALE,   DEFECTS  IN 
SUEFACE  COLOE 


Neck  too  dark.  Hackle  feathers  black  ou  edge  of  borders.  Breast, 
next  to  wing-fronts  and  wing,  near  front,  with  too  much  black.  Black 
tips  on  wing-bar.  Irregular  gray  striping  in  side  of  saddle.  Black 
showing  on  fluff  and  hocks. 


330  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

variety.  (Jver-dark  specimens  would  be  sought  more  eagerly 
and  prized  more  highly  than  over-light  or  white  specimens,  both 
for  breeding  virtues  and  exhibition  merits ;  however,  there  is 
grave  danger  in  using  birds  that  are  too  dark. 

The  Undercolor. — The  Standard  describes  undercolor  of  both 
sexes  in  like  phrases,  "bluish-slate  in  all  sections  except  breast 
which  may  be  bluish-white  except  at  juncture"  with  body ; 
there  bluish-slate  is  required,  thus  calling  for  lighter  color 
than  if  it  used  the  simple  term  "slate,"  which  would  allow 
an  extremely  large  range  of  undercolor  from  medium  slate 
that  might  be  almost  white  to  very  dark  slate  that  approaches 
black.  Too  dark  undercolor  as  well  as  too  light  is  dangerous 
in  the  breeding  pen,  as  white-surfaced  sections  would,  in  many 
cases,  show  black  or  dark  color  on  the  surface  of  the  back  of 
the  female  and  in  the  sides  of  breast  of  the  male  or  in  the  body 
feathers  of  one  or  both  sexes.  In  the  breast  of  both  sexes,  a 
lighter  shade  of  undercolor  is  required,  but  at  the  junction  with 
body  the  Standard  again  demands  a  bluish-slate.  A  very  clear 
idea  of  the  undercolor  of  the  lower  or  under  sections  of  the  body 
is  presented  by  the  series  of  feathers  in  Plates  113  and  114. 

The  undesirable  black  that  occasionally  will  crop  out  in  sides 
of  breast,  near  shoulder  or  wing,  wing-fronts  and  coverts,  and 
fluff  is  illustrated  in  Plate  115. 

CHAPTER  III. 

MATING    COLUMBIAN    PLYMOUTH    ROCKS 

For  the  following  we  are  largely  indebted  to  F.  M.  Clemans, 
to  whom  reference  has  been  made  heretofore,  as  one  of  the 
pioneers  in  the  development  of  this  variety : 

"The  color  markings  of  the  Columbian  Rock  are  practically 
the  same  as  those  of  the  Light  Brahma.  When  we  consider  how 
long  the  breeding  of  Light  Brahmas  has  been  reduced  to  a 
science  it  would  be  folly  to  ignore  the  valuable  lessons  we  can 
learn  from  a  study  of  results  heretofore  obtained  by  Light 
Brahma  breeders. 

"Those  who  have  had  most  to  do  with  the  advancement  of 
the  Columbian  Rock  have  not  failed  to  take  advantage  of  this 
record  of  achievement  in  Brahma  breeding  and  our  breed  has 
greatly  profited  thereby.  The  beginner  can  profit  largely  by 
following  the  course  of  the  successful  Light  Brahma  man  and 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  333 

advise  with   him  and  study  the  best  product  of  his  art  at  the 
shows. 

"The  requirements  for  color  and  markings  of  each  section 
have  been  so  carefully  weighed  and  considered  with  relation  to 
breeding  tendencies,  ascertained  by  years  of  experience  of  breed- 
ers, not  only  of  Columbian  Plymouth  Rocks,  but  Columbian 
W'yandottes  and  Light  Brahmas  as  well,  by  the  framers  of  the 
present  (1915  Revision)  Standard  for  the  Columbian  varieties, 
that  the  desired  strength  of  color  may  be  maintained  by  using 
exhibition  specimens  exculsively  in  these  matings.  This  happy 
state  of  affairs  has  been  brought  about  largely  by  reqviiring 
stronger  undercolor  in  certain  sections,  while  still  demanding  a 
surface  of  clear  white  in  these  sections.  Undoubtedly,  however, 
the  endeavors  of  breeders  of  this  variety  to  more  thoroughly 
establish  the  strength  and  stability  of  the  color  in  the  required 
sections  have  made  a  substantial  contribution  to  the  advance- 
ment we  find  this  variety  has  made  during  the  past  decade. 

"In  the  past  so  much  importance  has  been  attached  to  a  clear 
white  surface  and  many  times  to  a  clear  white  undercolor,  that 
those  sections  in  which  black  was  required  have  been  weakened, 
for  it  is  recognized  that  color  is  lost  in  succeeding  generations 
to  a  certain  extent  and  occasionally  a  little  excess  must  be  added 
to  maintain  the  balance.  While  such  study  of  the  methods  of 
the  pastmasters  in  breeding  Light  Brahmas  will  be  a  great 
benefit  in  mating  for  color,  equally  important  knowledge  can  be 
acquired  from  old  breeders  of  Barred  and  White  Rocks.  Here 
we  learn  much  of  value  in  producing  shape  and  true  Rock  char- 
acteristics. A  Colimibian  Rock  of  almost  perfect  color  is  of 
little  value  if  lacking  in  Rock  character,  for  in  Rock  type  lies 
more  than  half  of  the  beauty  and  utility  of  the  breed. 

"In  mating  this  or  any  breed,  consider  well  the  ancestry  of 
the  fowls  being  mated.  It  is  an  old  saying  that  'chicks  generally 
favor  the  grandsire.'  It  is  important  then  that  individual  quality 
be  backed  by  ancestors  selected  for  years  for  their  individual 
merit.  Otherwise,  we  must  combat  the  law  of  reversion  to  unde- 
sirable type. 

"Being  satisfied  as  to  ancestry,  next  in  importance  is  the  indi- 
vidual type  of  birds  to  be  mated.  The  true  Rock  is  a  bird  of 
good  size  that  will  make  Standard  weight  or  better  without 
crowding ;  in  other  words,  birds  that  have  the  bone  to  carry 
Standard  weight  or  over  without  being  fattened  to  an  injurious 


XV2  .i.u/;/?/r'.Lv  poultry  assooiation 


PLATE   116 


COLUMBIAN    PLYMOI  Til     IMx   h:s,     MAl.K,    FOR    IDKAL 
SINGLE    MATINtiS 

Illustrating  the  black  markings  of  standard  I'xliiliitiou  male  for 
breeding  both   males  and  females: 

Upper  row:  Neck,  back,  saddle,  saddle  (hanging  at  side  near  tail), 
smaller  tail-covert,  larger  tail-covert,   smaller  sickle. 

Below:      Wing,  primary;   wing,  secondary;   main   tail. 


ri.YMOf  rU  h'OCN  STAXDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  383 

PLATE   117 


COLUMBIAN    PLYMOUTH   EOCKS,   FEMALE,    FOR    IDEAL 
SINGLE   MATING 

Illustrating  the  black  markings   of   Standard   exhibition   female   for 
breeding  both  males  and  females: 

Upper  row:      Neck,  top  tail-covert,  smaller  tail-coverts,  larger  tail- 
coverts. 

Lower  row:     Wing,  primary;  wing,  secondary;   main  tail,  under-tail- 
covert. 


334  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

extent.  The  shank  is  a  good  indicator  of  weight-carrying 
capacity.  A  small  light  shanked  bird  in  a  flock  is  an  indication 
of  the  blood  of  a  Wyandotte  'sport.'  The  true  Rock  has  a 
broad,  deep  breast,  a  long,  broad  and  deep  body,  with  only  a 
slight  concave  rise  of  back  to  the  tail.  The  thighs  and  shanks 
are  strong  and  of  medium  length,  avoiding  either  the  low-set 
Dorking  or  stilty  Langshan. 

Color. — "We  have  learned  from  Brahma  breeders  that  the 
tendency  of  this  color  is  to  breed  lighter  unless  kept  well  rein- 
forced by  strong  colored  males  at  the  head  of  pens,  and  that  a 
flock  of  birds  of  this  color  will,  if  turned  loose  without  intelligent 
mating,  gradually  revert  to  white. 

"The  breeder  of  a  Columbian  variety  should  l^ear  the  follow- 
ing fundamental  facts  constantly  in  mind  when  mating  his  breed- 
ing fowls : 

"That  while  a  pullet  with  a  clear  white  back  and  white  under- 
color is  a  bird  to  be  admired,  she  should  be  mated  to  a  male  with 
strong  black  in  neck  and  wings,  well-striped  saddle,  with  cape 
full  of  black  and  white  dark  slate  undercolor,  if  we  would  sustain 
the  color  of  the  chicks. 

"That  the  male  has  much  to  do  with  producing  and  empha- 
sizing color,  and,  therefore,  very  light  and  faded  males  should 
invariably  be  sent  to  the  block. 

"That  by  the  use  of  strong  colored  males,  females  that  are 
somewhat  weak  in  color  can  be  profitably  utilized." 

Mr.  Clemans  describes  several  matings  utilizing  different 
grades  of  birds.  These  descriptions  will  be  of  service,  especially 
to  the  beginners : 

The  Ideal  Mating. — "This  mating  requires  birds  of  rare  show 
quality.  Many,  of  course,  cannot  afford  such  a  mating,  but  the 
breeder  with  a  good  sized  flock  to  select  from  can  often  make  a 
number  of  such  matings.  For  the  male,  select  either  a  cockerel 
weighing  seven  to  nine  pounds  or  cock  nine  to  ten  pounds,  when 
in  good  breeding  condition,  with  big,  strong,  bright  yellow 
shanks,  bright  reddish-bay  eye  and  in  general  type  as  nearly 
Standard  as  possible ;  wing  flights,  nearly  solid  black  ;  cape,  over 
one-half  black ;  hackle,  flowing  full  over  the  shoulders  and  with 
broad,  deep  black  stripe ;  saddle  showing  some  black  striping 
near  tail ;  sickles  solid  black,  with  lesser  coverts  nicely  edged 
with  white. 

"For  females  choose  either  six  to  eight-pound  hens  or  five  to 
six-pound  pullets  showing  clear  yellow,  strong-boned  shanks, 
good  eyes,  flights  over  half  black,  stripe  in  hackle  strong  and 


PLYMOVTH  ROCK  STAXDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  335 

running  well  down  the  feather,  laced  tail  coverts,  and  undercolor 
bluish-white.  The  comb  in  both  sexes  should  be  of  excellent 
type.  While  such  a  pen  is  worth  a  strong  price  it  will  be  worth 
the  money  for  future  results. 

Females  Lacking  in  Color. — "A  male  bird  as  described  in  the 
ideal  mating,  but  darker  in  plumage,  the  black  in  cape  showing 
well  into  the  back,  and  some  feathers  of  back  may  even  show  a 
tendency  to  black  striping.  Undercolor,  dark  slate.  Mate  to 
females  considerably  lighter  than  in  the  ideal  mating.  This  is  a 
good  mating  for  results,  often  producing  ideal  show  birds. 

Females  of  Too  Strong  a  Color. — "To  utilize  very  dark,  even 
smutty  necked  and  ticked  backed  females.  This  mating  is  better 
adapted  to  practical  purposes,  but  by  its  use  good  results  can  be 
obtained  where  it  is  necessary  to  use  such  birds.  To  females  of 
this  character,  mate  a  male  with  flights  about  one-third  white ; 
neck  and  cape  rather  light,  but  hackle  showing  fairly  good  stripe 
and  clear  white  edging ;  back,  clear  white  and  undercolor  light. 
While  this  mating  will  throw  some  culls,  it  will  produce  a  very 
fair  percentage  of  good  birds. 

Extremely  Light  Females. — "This  is  also  a  mating  that 
should  be  chiefly  relied  upon  to  produce  birds  for  commercial 
flocks  and  utilizes  very  light  colored  females  which  often  have 
light  or  pearl-colored  eyes.  Mate  these  to  a  male  bird  that 
would  be  discarded  as  a  show  bird  for  too  much  color  in  back. 
He  should  show  very  dark  hackle,  even  smoky  edge ;  cape  and 
undercolor  so  dark  as  to  show  in  web ;  wing  as  near  solid  black 
as  possible  in  flights  ;  eye.  very  strong  bright  red.  Remember, 
a  red  eye  is  a  strong  breeding  eye.  It  is  very  desirable  in  a  male 
bird.  Such  a  cockerel  as  here  described  will  often  moult  the 
second  vear  into  a  great  show  bird,  though  almost  disqualified 
as  a  cockerel. 

"This  is  an  extreme  mating,  but  it  makes  reasonably  valuable 
females  that  would  otherwise  have  to  be  discarded,  and  very 
often  it  will  produce  a  percentage  of  show  birds. 

"Matings  like  numbers  three  and  four  and  other  matings  in 
which  the  defects  of  one  sex  are  offset  in  the  opposite  sex  often 
meet  the  wants  of  a  beginner  whose  purse  will  not  reach  a  more 
desirable  mating,  and  from  such  matings  a  very  good  flock  is 
often  started.  A  greater  percentage  of  culls  can  be  expected,  but 
many  good   birds   will   also   be  produced,   and   from  these   the 


336  AMFEfCAX  rOT'LTRY  ASi^OCIATION 

beginner  can  build  up.     When  the  amateur  can  afford  it,  how- 
ever, let  him  invest  in  a  mating  like  one  or  two. 

Double  Mating. — "Many  ask  about  double  matings  and  how 
to  make  them.  Columbian  Rocks  do  not  require  that  system  and 
it  would  be  foolish  to  inaugurate  it.  However,  such  matings  can 
be  made  and  occasionally  circumstances  might  make  them  de- 
sirable. 

"A  special  mating  for  pullets  would  be  one  in  which  the 
females  of  the  pen  conform  closely  to  the  Standard  in  all  points, 
while  the  male  should  be  equally  good  except  that  he  should  be 
exceptionally  clear  of  black  in  web  of  back  and  with  few  striped 
feathers  in  saddle,  while  his  tail-coverts  should  be  exceptionally 
nicely  laced.  This  would  throw  fine  pullets  and  at  the  same  time 
a  good  percentage  of  good  males. 

"A  mating  for  show  males  might  be  made  by  mating  very 
dark  pullets  showing  nearly  black  flights  and  smoky  or  ticky 
backs,  and  such  a  mating  should  produce  some  grand  males,  no 
doubt,  but  many  of  the  females  probably  would  be  ticky  in  back. 
On  the  whole,  matings  that  will  produce  a  good  proportion  of 
good  chicks  of  both  sexes  cannot  be  too  strongly  adhered  to." 

Double  matings  are  now  rarely  used  in  solid-colored  breed 
varieties  or  in  those  varieties  in  which  the  color  pattern  is  the 
same  in  both  sexes. 

As  already  pointed  out,  the  tendency  to  use  the  last  three 
matings  diminishes  as  the  variety  improves,  until  nearly  every 
breeder  has  one,  at  least,  that  approaches  an  ideal  mating. 

Two  groups  of  feathers,  plates  116  and  117,  show  feathers 
from  different  sections  of  male  and  female  of  an  ideal  single 
mating,  conforming  with  the  best  ideal  for  the  best  matings  of 
the  present  day,  practically  as  described  in  paragraph  under 
heading  of  "Ideal  Matings." 

The  following  article  on  mating  is  taken  from  a  recent 
American  Plymouth  Rock  Club  catalogue  and  was  written  by 
T.  J.  Enslin,  Secretary  of  the  club  at  that  time : 

"Unlike  some  breeds,  it  is  not  necessary  to  resort  to  double 
matings  to  obtain  best  results.  Single  matings  will  answer  every 
requirement. 

"In  selecting  breeders  the  question  of  type  is  the  first  essen- 
tial from  both  an  exhibition  and  utility  point  of  view.  Also, 
because  the  Rock  type  best  exemplifies  the  beautiful  black  and 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  337 

white  color  markings  of  our  breed,  the  specimen  should  be  big- 
boned  and  have  a  long  body,  broad  breast  and  legs,  neck  and 
tail  to  conform. 

Hackle 

"To  my  mind  there  is  nothing  so  beautiful  in  the  makeup 
of  a  Columbian  Rock  as  a  well-defined,  distinctly  marked  hackle, 
with  feather  having  broad  black  centers,  edged  ofif  with  the 
narrow  white  stripe.  The  hackle  seems  to  outshine  all  parts  of 
the  body  and  naturally  should  have  the  most  consideration.  I 
do  not  know  of  any  other  section  of  the  body  which  implies  or 
has  so  much  meaning,  consequently  every  effort  should  be  made 
to  produce  good  hackles.  The  black  markings  should  be  carried 
well  up  to  the  head,  and  should  meet  in  front.  I  have  heard 
many  judges  say  that  unless  the  hackle  is  at  least  fairly  good 
they  would  not  go  to  the  trouble  to  take  the  bird  out  of  the 
exhibition  coop  for  closer  examination.  A  smutty  or  smoky 
hackle  is  one  of  the  hardest,  if  not  the  hardest,  defect  to  out- 
l)reed,  but  it  can  be  done  by  line-breeding  two  or  three  genera- 
tions on  A-1  hackled  specimens.  A  tendency  today  is  to  have 
the  white  border  of  female  hackle  feathers  too  wide.  The  narrow 
stripe  in  my  judgment  is  the  ideal. 

Tail  and  Saddle  of  Male 

"The  main-tail  feathers  of  both  male  and  female  should  be 
solid  black,  also  sickle  feathers  of  male.  The  tail-coverts  of 
both  male  and  female  constitute  one  of  the  most  important,  as 
well  as  most  beautiful  sections  of  the  color  markings.  The 
male  tail-coverts  should  have  the  greenish-black  center  in  web, 
edged  off  with  a  narrow  white  border,  giving  it  the  appear- 
ance of  a  highly  polished  feather.  Female  tail-coverts  should 
have  solid  black  centers  edged  off  with  a  narrow  white  border. 

"One  of  the  most  important  sections  of  male  bird  is  the 
saddle.  The  saddle  feathers  should  be  white  with  a  distinct, 
very  narrow  V-shaped,  black  stripe  at  end  of  feather,  tapering 
to  a  point  near  its  lower  extremity.  Many  judges  disagree  as 
to  the  amount  of  collective  feather  striping  there  should  be  in 
the  saddle.  In  my  opinion  about  one-half  or  at  most  two-thirds 
of  feathers  is  sufficient. 

Wing 

"Primaries  should  be  black,  with  white  edging  on  lower  edge 
of  lower  web  and  secondaries  should  have  much  wider  white 


338  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

Stripe   in   lower  portion   of   lower   web,   producing   clean    white 
surface  color  when  wing  is  folded. 


General  Color  Markings 

"The  standard  Columbian  Rock  cc^lor  markings  harmonize 
with  each  other.  It  seldom  occurs  that  a  bird  is  light  in  one 
section  and  dark  in  another.  A  very  dark  liird  generally  runs 
very  dark  in  all  sections  including  undercolor.  My  experience 
has  been  that  it  is  a  serious  mistake  to  mate  a  very  dark  male 
bird  to  a  very  light  colored  female.  By  very  dark  males,  I  refer 
to  birds  having  slate  or  black  surface  color  in  fluff  and  a  super- 
fluous outcropping  of  black  in  surface  of  breast  just  below  and 
adjoining  front  of  hackle.  Such  a  mating  wid  produce  any- 
thing but  a  uniform  lot  of  birds  and  due  to  the  well  known 
fact  that  the  male  bird  has  a  predominating  influence  in  color 
of  offspring  the  result  will  be  a  very  large  percentage  of  smutty 
or  smoky  colored  birds,  which  to  my  mind  is  the  most  dis- 
tasteful as  well  as  discouraging  experience  a  beginner  can  have. 
On  the  other  hand  birds  too  light  in  color,  although  more  pleas- 
ing to  the  eye,  also  have  a  number  of  defects  such  as  poor  wing 
color  and  undercolor,  which  today  are  carefully  considered  by 
the  judge.  The  standard  calls  for  "bluish-slate"  undercolor  for 
all  parts  of  body  except  breast,  where  "bluish-white"  is  called 
for.  Good  undercolor  invariably  accompanies  not  only  good 
surface  color  but  good  wing  color,  and  when  both  male  and 
female  (as  well  as  generations  before  them)  possess  these  charac- 
teristics, there  is  little  chance  of  offspring  breeding  lighter  in 
color.  My  experience  has  been  it  is  not  necessary  that  the  birds 
in  the  breeding  pens  should  have  stronger  color  markings  than 
that  which  it  is  desired  to  produce  in  the  offspring.  This  idea 
originated  with  the  old-time  Light  Brahma  breeders,  who, 
although  they  accomplished  wonders,  and  to  whom  we  are 
indebted  for  many  good  points  in  Columbian  Rocks,  paid  little 
attention  to  saddle  striping,  and  still  less  to  undercolor  such  as 
is  required  by  the  latest  Plyniouth  Rock  Standard  Breed  Book. 
These  features  were  carefully  considered  by  the  1915  Revision 
Committee  of  the  American  Poultry  Association,  which  required 
that  stronger  undercolor  should  prevail  in  certain  sections  while 
still  demanding  a  surface  of  clear  white  in  these  sections.  I 
believe  in  the  principle.  'Breed  as  you  exhibit  and  exhibit  as 
you  breed.'  Both  brassiness  and  gray  in  sickle  feathers  can  be 
overcome  by  using  stronger  undercolored  birds  as  breeders." 


PIAMOTTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  330 


PLATE   118 


\\l.\.\i.\(.   COLUMBIAN    PLYMOUTH   ROCKS 


340  AMERICAN  FOfLTRY  ASSOCIATION 


BLUE  PLYMOUTH  ROCKS 
Disqualifications. 


Shanks  other  than  yellow.     (See  general  and  Plymouth  Rock 
lisqualifications.) 


COLOR  OF  MALE. 

Head. — Plumage,  slaty  blue. 

Beak. — Yellow,   shading  to  horn. 

Eyes. — Reddish-bay. 

Comb,  Face,  Wattles  and  Ear-Lobes.-   Bright  red. 

Neck. — Very  dark,  lustrous  blue. 

Wings. — Bows,  very  dark,  lustrous  blue ;  coverts,  a  clear, 
even  shade  of  slaty  blue,  with  a  well-defined  lacing  of  darker 
blue ;  primaries,  a  clear,  even,  medium  shade  of  slaty  blue ; 
secondaries,  inner  web,  a  clear,  even  shade  of  slaty  blue,  outer 
web,  slaty  blue ;  each  feather  having-  a  clear,  well-defined  lacing 
of  darker  blue. 

Back.— Very  dark,  lustrous  blue. 

Tail. — Sickles,  very  dark,  lustrous  blue ;  tail-coverts,  lustrous 
blue ;  main  tail  feathers,  a  clear,  even  slaty  blue,  each  feather 
having  a  well-defined  lacing  of  darker  blue. 

Breast. — A  clear,  even,  medium  shade  of  slaty  blue,  each 
feather  having  a  clear  and  well-defined  lacing  of  a  darker  blue. 

Body  and  Fluff. — Body,  a  clear,  even,  medium  shade  of  slaty 
blue,  each  feather  having  a  well-defined  lacing  of  darker  blue ; 
fluff,  slaty  blue. 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  'Ml 

Legs  and  Toes. — Thighs,  a  clear,  even  shade  of  slaty  l)lue. 
each  feather  having  a  well-defined  lacing  of  darker  blue ;  shanks 
and  toes,  yellow. 

Under  color  of  all  sections. — Slaty  blue. 

COLOR  OF  FEMALE. 

Head. — Plumage,   slaty   blue. 

Beak. — Yellow,  shading  to  horn. 

Eyes. — Reddish-bay. 

Comb,  Face,  Wattles  and  Ear-Lobes. — Bright  red. 

Neck. — Slaty  blue,   laced   with    darker  blue. 

Wings. — Primaries,  a  clear,  even,  medium  shade  of  slaty 
blue ;  remainder  of  wing  an  even  shade  of  slaty  blue,  darker 
than  that  of  primaries ;  feathers  in  all  sections,  except  primaries, 
having  a  clear,  well-defined  lacing  of  darker  blue. 

Back. — Slaty  blue,  each  feather  having  a  clear,  well-defined 
lacing  of  darker  blue. 

Tail. — Slaty  blue,  laced  with  a  darker  blue. 

Breast. — Slaty  blue,  each  feather  having  a  clear,  well-defined 
lacing  of  darker  blue. 

Body  and  Fluff. — Body,  slaty  blue,  each  feather  having  a 
clear,  well-defined  lacing  of  darker  blue ;  fluff,  slaty  blue. 

Legs  and  Toes. — Thighs,  slaty  blue,  each  feather  having  a 
clear,  well-defined  lacing  of  darker  blue ;  shanks  and  toes,  yellow. 

Under  color  of  all  sections. — Slatv  blue. 


PART  FOUR 

PLYMOUTH  ROCKS  FOR  AND  IN  THE 
SHOW  ROOM 


SECTION  I.— AN     EXPLANATION     OF     THE     JUDGE'S 
PART    IN    THE    SHOW    ROOM 

Chapter    I.     THE  SCALE   OF  POINTS. 

Chapter  II.     JUDGING    PLYMOUTH    ROCKS. 


SECTION  II.— THE    EXHIBITOR'S    PART. 

Chapter      I.     THE      EXAMINATION      OF      CANDI- 
DATES FOR  SHOW  HONORS. 

Chapter     II.     CONDITIONING    FOWLS    FOR    THE 
SHOW. 

Chapter  III.  SHIPPING    TO    THE    SHOW. 

Chapter   IV.  CARE  IN  THE  SHOW  ROOM. 

Chapter     V.  RETURNING    FROM    THE    SHOW. 

Chapter  VI.  CARE  OF  BIRDS  AFTER  SHOW. 


342 


SECTION     I  . 

EXPLANATION  OF  THE  JUDGE'S  PART 

CHAPTER  I. 

STANDARD    SCALE    OF   POINTS 

THOROUGHBRED  races  of  horses,  cattle,  sheep  and 
swine,  as  well  as  domesticated  breeds  of  dogs,  are  measured 
in  value  by  a  fixed  scale  of  points  formulated  for  each 
breed  and,  with  poultry,  applicable  to  each  breed  even  to  every 
variety. 

The  American  Standard  of  Perfection  describes  the  ideal 
specimen  in  shape  and  color  and  this  description  is  the  guide  for 
the  breeder,  exhibitor  and  judge.  It  is  the  supreme  law  which 
controls  all  judges  of  Standard-bred  poultry  in  making-  their 
decisions  between  contesting  specimens  in  the  show  room  or  the 
breeders'  yards. 

All  breeds  of  poultry  must  be  bred  to  the  standards  formu- 
lated by  the  American  Poultry  Association  and  published  in  the 
American  Standard  of  Perfection,  for  without  such  Standards 
advancement  in  the  art  of  breeding  poultry  would  have  been 
impossible. 

First  Poultry  Standard  Published  in  1865. — The  history  of 
standard-making  in  the  poultry  world  would  make  a  long  chap- 
ter, for  it  dates  as  far  back  as  1865,  when  the  first  "Standard  of 
Excellence"  was  compiled  in  England.  The  late  Lewis  Wright. 
one  of  the  most  thorough  students  of  the  poultry  problems,  as 
well  as  the  most  successful  writer  on  poultry  topics  in  Great 
Britain,  in  his  authoritative  "Book  of  Poultry,"  comments  on 
the  first  Standard  as  follows : 

"About  1865  a  poultry  club  was  formed  in  England,  but  it  did 
not  secure  many  adherents  and  was  speedily  wrecked  by  the 
personal  animosity  which  developed  between  two  or  three  of  its 
members.  But  it  issued  a  description  of  the  recognized  breeds, 
with  numerical  values  for  the  points,  under  the  title  of  "Standard 
of  Excellence,"  which  was  a  landmark  in  the  judging  of  poul- 
try.   In  spite  of  many  faults,  it  embodied  the  principle  that  fowls 

.343 


344  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

ought  to  be  bred  to  definite  points  and  judged  by  them,  and  that 
the  points  could  be  and  ought  to  be  defined.  This  was  a  great 
idea  and  a  great  service,  though  the  first  club's  existence  was 
brief  and  its  Standard  very  crude.  The  scale  of  points  only 
added  up  to  a  total  of  fifteen,  through  all  the  breeds, 
which  quite  shut  out  the  modern  system  of  "cutting"  a  portion 
off  for  defects ;  and  in  the  descriptions  themselves  there  were 
several  errors — such  as  attributing  red  eyes  to  Malays — which, 
however,  could  scarcely  be  avoided  at  that  early  period.  The 
existing  judges  ostentatiously  declined  to  be  bound  by  this 
Standard,  which  had,  in  fact,  no  authority ;  yet,  nevertheless, 
its  definitions  or  descriptions  undoubtedly  had  great  influence  in 
bringing  about  greater  uniformity  of  type  and  more  general 
acceptance  of  a  real  type  in  many  breeds." 

A.  M.  Halstead,  Rye,  New  York,  issued  a  reprint  of  this 
English  Standard  in  1867,  but  it  did  not  prove  satisfactory  to 
American  poultry  breeders.  A  year  before  the  above  made  its 
appearance,  I.  K.  Felch,  Natick,  Massachusetts,  devised  a  Stand- 
ard and  Score  Card,  with  a  scale  of  points,  for  Light  Brahmas, 
that  proved  to  be  the  forerunner  of  an  American  Standard  of 
Excellence.  Mr.  Felch  claims  that  his  score  card  was  the  first 
to  be  used  in  America. 

The  Lockwood  Standard,  adopted  in  New  York  City  in  1871, 
was  the  result  of  the  embryonic  scale  of  points  on  Mr.  Felch's 
first  score  card,  embodying  his  valuation  for  shape  and  color, 
but  the  Felch  scale  was  raised  to  100  points  and,  instead  of  four 
sections,  eleven  were  allotted  to  each  breed.  The  bulk  of  this 
Lockwood  Standard  was  made  up  from  the  English  Standard, 
however.  A.  M.  Halstead,  in  the  fall  of  1871,  also  published  an 
American  Standard  of  Excellence,  but  neither  of  these  Standards 
proved  satisfactory. 

It  was  not  until  the  American  Poultry  Association  was  organ- 
ized, February  15,  1873,  at  Buffalo,  New  York,  that  the  work  of 
compiling  a  Standard  of  Excellence  which  would  meet  with  the 
approval  of  American  breeders  of  pure-bred  poultry  was  begun. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  reorganized  American  Poultry  Associa- 
tion held  at  Buffalo,  New  York,  January  15,  1874,  the  first  Amer- 
ican Standard  of  Excellence  was  adopted.  This  standard  con- 
sisted of  102  pages.  At  the  third  annual  meeting  of  the  Ameri- 
can Poultry  Association,  held  at  Buffalo,  New  York,  January  21, 
1875,  a  larger  and  more  complete  Standard  was  adopted,  con- 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  345 

taining  descriptions  of  seventy-nine  varieties  of  fowls,  and  con- 
sisting of  243  pages.  Revisions  of  this  Standard  of  Excellence 
were  made  at  Chicago,  1876;  Buffalo,  1877,  and  Portland.  Maine, 
1878.  The  1878  edition  remained  unchanged  for  many  years,  as 
did  the  Scale  of  Points.  Further  revisions  of  more  or  less  im- 
portance were  made  at  Indianapolis,  1888;  Buffalo.  1889.  and 
Chicago,  1893,  but  the  most  thorough  revision  of  the  Standard 
occurred  at  Fishers  Island,  New  York,  in  1897,  when  many 
important  changes  were  made,  among  them  being  the  separation 
of  the  shape  and  color  descriptions  to  the  breed  it  belonged  to. 
"Typical  Carriage"  was  substituted  for  "Symmetry"  in  the  Scale 
of  Points.  This  Standard  was  adopted  at  the  twenty-second 
annual  meeting  of  the  American  Poultry  Association,  held  at 
Boston,  Massachusetts,  January,  1898.  Additions  to  this  Stand- 
ard were  made  at  Chicago,  1901 ;  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  and 
Hagerstown,  Maryland,  in  1902.  But  the  above  revisions,  as  well 
as  all  subsequent  ones,  did  not  affect  the  Scale  of  Points. 


FIRST    SCALE    OF   POINTS 


The  first  Scale  of  Points  printed  were  those  in  the  Halstead 
Standard  in  1867.  They  were  called  "Points  in  Brahmas." 
"Cochins."  "Dorkings"  and  other  breeds  in  vogue  at  that  time. 
As  no  Plymouth  Rocks  or  Wyandottes  were  recognized  by  the 
Standard  at  that  time,  we  reproduce  below  the  Scale  of  Points 
given  for  "Light  Brahmas" : 


Points  in  Brahmas 


Size  3 

Color    4 

Head   and   Comb 1 

Wings,  Primaries  well  tucked  under  Secondaries 1 

Legs  and  Feathering,  ditto 1 

Fluff 1 

Symmetry    2 

Condition  2 

15 


346  AMERICAX  POULTRY  ASSOflATIOX 

For  White   Leghorns  the   Halstead   Scale  of   Points   ran   as 
follows : 


Points  in  White  Leghorns,  Single  and  Rose  Combed 


Comb 2 

Face  and  Ear-Lobe 3 

Purity  of  Plumag-e 3 

Size 3 

Symmetry   2 

Condition  ; 2 

It  is  significant  to  note  that  breeders  of  Brahmas  fifty  years 
ago  placed  the  paramount  value  in  their  Scale  of  Points  on  size 
and  color,  while  the  Leghorn  fanciers  of  that  time  went  even 
further  in  making  color,  face  and  lobes,  and  size  of  the  greatest 
valuation  in  their  Scale  of  Points,  symmetry  and  condition  play- 
ing minor  roles  in  the  scale. 

The  above  early,  albeit  crude,  measures  of  value  given  to  the 
various  breeds  by  breeders  of  a  half  century  ago  indicate  quite 
clearly,  however,  that  their  idea  of  valuation  of  points  in  the 
respective  breeds  was  founded  on  what  they  deemed  the  salient 
features,  and  it  seeins  to  us  that  the  foundation  was  a  good  one. 

First  Scale  of  Points  in  the  American  Class. — In  the  Amer- 
ican Standard  of  Excellence,  as  revised  by  the  United  Poultry 
Fanciers  of  America,  convened  under  the  auspices  of  the  Amer- 
ican Poultry  Association,  at  their  convention  held  in  Buffalo, 
New  York,  January  15,  1874,  the  first  standard  description  of 
Barred  Plymouth  Rocks  is  printed,  with  the  following  Scale  of 
Points : 

S\mmetrv    :. 20 

Size    ' 20 

Color  of   Plumage 25 

Head  5 

Comb  10 

Tail  5 

Leg  5 

Condition  10 

100 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  347 

Size  played  an  important  role  in  the  early  days  of  the  stand- 
ard-bred fowl  industry,  judging  by  the  instructions  to  judges 
found  in  the  1874  Standard,  as  the  following  extracts  will  prove: 

"In  figuring  size  or  weight,  the  fowls  which  shall  be  compara- 
tively small  in  proportion  to  a  weight  that  indicates  excessive 
fat  shall  be  estimated  in  the  same  ratio  as  those  which  present 
large  size  and  are  deficient  in  weight  compared  to  size." 

"Judges  must  in  all  cases  make  a  pro  rata  reduction  for  any 
fractional  part  of  a  pound  that  a  specimen  falls  short  of  the 
largest  or  Standard  bird." 

In  the  Asiatic  class,  the  specimen  largest  in  size  and  weight 
was  deemed  the  perfect  specimen  and  allowed  full  number  of 
points  in  size  and  weight,  provided  always  that  the  cocks  did  not 
weigh  less  than  eleven  pounds,  cockerels  less  than  ten  pounds, 
liens  less  than  ten  pounds,  and  pullets  less  than  eight  pounds, 
under  the  1874  Scale  of  Points.    As  an  illustration : 

"When  the  largest  cock  specimen  in  size  and  weight  weighs 
thirteen  pounds  or  more,  the  remaining  specimens  shall  be  fig- 
ured comparatively,  losing  two  points  for  every  pound  they  fall 
short  of  the  weight  of  the  per  Standard  specimen.  When  the 
largest  cock  weighs  under  thirteen  pounds,  and  not  less  than 
twelve  pounds,  then  the  remaining  specimens  shall  lose  four 
points  for  every  pound  they  fall  short  of  the  weight  of  said 
best  or  Standard  specimen." 

The  same  rule  was  applied  to  y\siatic  cockerels,  hens  and 
pullets,  and  all  judges  in  other  classes  were  instructed  to  first 
establish  a  corresponding  size  and  weight  that  shall  apply  to 
their  class  and  shall  be  in  keeping  with  the  spirit  of  the  fore- 
going : 

MODERN  SCALE  OF  POINTS  FOR  PLYMOUTH  ROCKS 

(An  Adaptation  From  Mr.  Drevenstedt's  Article  on  Wyandottes) 

But  what  Plymouth  Rock  breeders  are  interested  in  today  is 
the  valuation  placed  on  their  breed  by  the  American  Standard 
of  Perfection.  In  1888  the  Scale  of  Points  for  the  three  varieties 
of  Plymouth  Rocks  then  recognized — Barred,  Pea-Comb  and 
White — allotted  to  the  different  sections  relative  valuation  as 
indicated  : 


348  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

Symmetry   8 

Weight     6 

Condition  6 

Head — Shape  3,  Color  3 6 

Comb   8 

Wattles  and  Ear-Lobes....  6 

Neck — Shape  4,  Color  6.  10 

Back — Shape  4,  Color  4....  8 

Breast — Shape  5,  Color  5.  10 

Body  and  Fluff — Shape  5.  Color  3  8 

Wings — Shape  4,  Color  4.  8 

Tail — Shape  4,  Color  4 8 

Legs  and  Toes 8 

100 


This  scale  of  points  applied  to  all  varieties  in  the  American 
class.  Plymouth  Rock  breeders  of  today  will  note  that  the 
valuations  given  placed  too  low  a  value  on  color  of  plumage, 
only  26  points  being  designated  to  this  important  feature.  But 
the  Scale  of  Points  in  the  1898  Standard  was  practically  the 
same,  with  the  exception  that  "Typical  Carriage"  supplemented 
"Symmetry."  In  the  Scale  of  Points  of  the  1910  Standard  we 
find  some  important  changes.  Twenty-eight  points  are  allotted 
to  color  of  plumage  and  the  shape  of  the  important  body  sections 
gains  three  points.  Weight  counts  less  and  failure  to  approach 
Standard  weight  is  more  severely  penalzied.  By  the  allotment  it 
will  be  seen  that  more  credit  for  merit  was  accorded  to  the  sec- 
tions which  were  in  most  varieties  the  most  difficult  to  breed. 
Plymouth  Rocks  were  now  recognized  in  six  different  colors  and 
color  patterns,  or  six  varieties,  three  of  which  were  compara- 
tively new.  The  color  patterns  of  two  of  these  were  admittedly 
difticult  to  i)roduce,  especially  at  that  stage  of  development. 

1910  Scale  of  Points. 

Symmetry    4 

Weight    4 

Condition    4 

Comb 8 

Head — Shape  2,  Color  2 4 

Beak— Shape  2,  Color  2 4 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  349 

Eyes — Shape  2,  Color  2 4 

Wattles  and  Ear-Lobes — Shape  2,  Color  3 5 

Neck— Shape  3,  Color  5 8 

Wings — Shape  4,  Color  5 9 

Back — Shape  6,  Color  5 11 

Tail — Shape  5,  Color  5 10 

Breast — Shape  6,  Color  5 11 

Body  and  Fluff — Shape  5,  Color  3 8 

Legs  and  Toes — Shape  3,  Color  3 6 

100 
INSTRUCTIONS  TO  JUDGES. 

Under  the  above  heading,  on  page  35  of  the  American 
Standard  of  Perfection,  the  following  paragraph  instructs 
judges,  as  well  as  breeders  and  exhibitors,  how  to  apply  the 
"Scale  of  Points" : 

"Merit :  The  merit  of  specimens  shall  be  determined  by  a 
careful  examination  of  all  sections  in  the  "Scale  of  Points," 
beginning  with  symmetry  and  continuing  through  the  list,  de- 
ducting from  the  full  value  of  each  section  of  a  perfect  bird 
for  such  defects  as  are  found  in  the  specimen.  Judges  must 
familiarize  themselves  with  the  scale  of  points  of  each  breed 
they  are  to  pass  upon,  to  intelligently  award  prizes.  And  it 
must  be  understood  that  no  more  and  no  less  value  can  be 
placed  on  any  section  than  is  provided  for  in  the  "Scale  of 
Points."  And  it  shall  be  further  understood  that  this  system 
must  be  applied  whether  judged  by  score  card  or  comparison. 
The  minimum  cut  for  any  section  shall  be  one-fourth  of  one 
point." 

On  page  41,  under  "Cutting  for  Defects,"  the  Standard 
reads : 

"These  cuts  should  not  be  confused  with  nor  take  prece- 
dence over  the  valuation  given  each  section  in  the  Scale  of  Points 
of  all  varieties." 

Owing  to  the  fact  that  all  of  the  largest  shows  are  judged 
by  comparison  today,  the  above  paragraph  is  of  greater  im- 
portance than  the  succeeding  ones,  giving  cuts  to  be  made  in 
the  various  sections.  In  other  words,  the  "Scale  of  Points"  is 
the  true  measure  of  value  which  the  judge  must  apply  when 
selecting  the  winners  in  the  Plymouth  Rock  classes  in  the  show- 
room or  in  the  breeders'  yards.  In  all  sections,  except  weight 
and  condition,  the  relative  value  of  shape  and  color  are  clearly 


350  AMERICAN  POULTRY  At^SOCIATION 

defined  and,  if  adhered  to,  will  determine  tlie  ratings  of  the 
competing  specimens  correctly  as  a  rule.  But  the  size  or  weight 
and  condition  of  an  exhibition  specimen  often  decide  its  stand- 
ing among  the  winners  in  the  show-room,  and  great  care  must 
be  exercised  by  the  judge  when  handling  birds  that  appear  large 
and  look  in  the  pink  of  condition. 

Size  is  a  relative  term,  so  when  two  specimens  are  com- 
pared the  one  that  apparently  looks  the  larger  will  often  win, 
other  points  being  equal.  But,  applying  the  weight  clause  is 
the  safest  rule  in  all  such  decisions. 

It  is  also  well  to  bear  in  mind  that  a  Plymouth  Rock  when 
over  standard  weight,  though  larger  in  size,  may  be  coarser  in 
type.  Size  and  overweight  has  a  tendency  to  destroy  the  type 
by  making  the  specimen  coarser.  In  defining  Standard  size. 
l)age  39  of  the  present  Standard  of  Perfection  reads : 

"In  delermining  size,  the  judge  shall  decide  by  comparing 
tlie  specimens  in  competition,  with  due  regard  to  weight  in  all 
l^reeds  and  varieties,  where  weight  is  required  by  the  Stand- 
ard. When  a  bird  fails  to  attain,  or  in  case  it  exceeds,  the 
size  proportionate  with  the  type  or  shape,  it  must  be  discounted 
quite  severely." 

Symmetry  is  valued  at  four  points  in  the  Scale,  so  a  bird 
approximately  closely  the  Standard  ideal  can  be  rated  100 
per  cent  or  the  full  four  points  of  value  in  the  Scale  of  Points, 
which  will  make  the  ratings  of  less  typical  specimens  a  mat- 
ter of  comparative  percentages.  But  in  comparison  judging 
today,  as  in  the  past,  symmetry  is  rarely,  if  ever,  computed 
by  a  Scale  of  Points.  Where  one  specimen  which  is  almost 
identical  with  another  in  typical  shape  or  symmetry,  has  one 
minor  shape  defect  only,  as  for  instance,  a  head  too  narrow, 
or  a  comb  too  large  for  a  Plymouth  Rock,  that  defect  should 
be  discounted  under  head  points,  as  are  all  minor  or  serious 
faults  in  the  different  sections,  and  the  cuts  to  be  made  when 
the  score  card  is  applied  should  comply  with  the  rules  given 
in  the  Standard  of  Perfection  under  "Cutting  for  Defect." 

Condition,  like  symmetry,  is  valued  at  four  points,  and  is 
equally  difficult  of  application  when  measured  by  the  "Scale 
of  Point"  valuation,  as  no  definite  rule  to  determine  the  rela- 
tive value  of  condition  in  competing  specimens  can  be  laid  down, 
for  it  is  a  duty  of  the  judge  to  determine  this  matter. 

The  Standard  defines  Condition  as  follows :  "The  state  of 
a  fowl  as  regards  health,  cleanliness  and  order  of  plumage." 
Frosted  combs,  broken  feathers  and  scaly  legs  are  discounted 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  351 

in  their  respective  sections,  and  handicap  seriously  the  speci- 
men that  may  be  in  good  heahh  and  feather  otherwise ;  rough 
and  soiled  plumage,  if  caused  by  poor  washing  and  handling, 
handicaps  an  otherwise  fine  specimen  severely,  but  if  the  plumage 
of  a  well-conditioned  bird  becomes  soiled  in  the  show  pen,  due 
allowance  must  be  made  by  the  judge. 

The  relative  values  of  color  and  shape  in  the  neck,  back, 
wing  and  breast  sections,  given  in  the  1915  Standard,  are  more 
just  and  equitable  than  those  in  the  older  Standards,  as  color 
in  parti-colored  Plymouth  Rocks  is  of  paramount  importance, 
especially  in  Silver  Penciled  and  Partridge,  varieties  that  have 
run  less  true  to  shape  requirements  than  the  Barred  and  White, 
due  to  the  extreme  difficulties  experienced  by  breeders  in  per- 
fecting the  penciled  feather  pattern  demanded  by  the  Standard. . 
To  a  certain  extent,  shape  had  to  be  sacrified  in  order  to  obtain 
the  desired  Standard  color  markings.  It  is,  therefore,  neces- 
sary to  place  as  high  a  valuation  on  these  color  sections  as 
possible  in  order  to  protect  the  male  or  female  specimens  which 
show  superior  color  markings,  but  that  fail  somewhat  in  the 
shape  of  different  sections.     (J.  H.  D.) 


CHAPTER  II. 

JUDGING    AMERICAN    BREEDS  —  PLYMOUTH    ROCKS. 

The  philosophy  of  judging  Standard  breeds  of  poultry  is 
the  same  as  that  which  must  apply  for  all  other  animate  or 
inanimate  exhibits  found  in  nature  or  produced  by  the  art  and 
skill  of  man,  for  it  is  based  on  the  knowledge  which  governs 
the  valuation  of  all  such  matter  examined,  or  specimens  ex- 
hibited. In  other  words,  the  Standard-bred  specimen  in  the 
yard  of  the  breeder,  or  in  the  show  pen  of  the  exhibitor,  is 
the  matter  to  be  considered  by  the  mind  of  the  judge.  And 
the  mind  of  the  poultry  judge  is  governed  by  the  American 
Standard  of  Perfection,  which  is  the  only  safe  guide  for  the 
breeder,  exhibitor  and  judge  in  selecting  breeding  or  exhibition 
specimens.  This  Standard  is  the  law  which  every  judge  must 
obey. 

The  fads  of  breeders  and  exhibitors  must  be  ignored  by 
the  judge,  for  no  conscientious  adjudicator  of  live  stock  is  or 
ever  will  be  a  faddist.     Fads  of  any  description  are  short-lived. 


352  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

Furthermore,  there  are  the  dangers  of  the  advanced  types  in 
certain  popular  breeds  or  varieties  to  carefully  guard  against. 
They  may  seem  to  be  in  advance  of  the  present  Standard  for 
the  special  variety  in  some  one  section  of  color  marking  which 
has  been  produced  by  skillful  and  progressive  breeding,  and 
beautiful  as  such  may  look  to  the  producer  and  other  admirers 
of  this  particular  variety,  they  cannot  be  justly  considered  by 
an  American  Poultry  Association  judge  until  they  have  been 
recognized,  authorized  and  printed  in  the  edition  of  the  x\mer- 
ican  Standard  of  Perfection  that  is  in  force  at  the  time  of 
judging. 

To  recognize  any  one  particular  so-called  advanced  section 
is  to  become  a  slave  to  a  single  idea,  for  the  poultry  judge 
with  a  fad  is  usually  the  one  who  ignores  the  Standard  by  plac- 
ing too  much  valuation  on  some  particular  section  in  one  speci- 
men and  overlooking  the  general  all-around  excellencies  of  the 
competing  specimens. 

With  some  judges  of  Barred  Plymouth  Rocks,  under- 
barring  is  a  dangerous  fad,  one  that  is  shared  by  breeders  not 
infrequently.  A  Barred  Plymouth  Rock,  beautiful  in  surface 
color,  will  often  be  passed  because  the  undercolor  is  not  barred 
strongly  and  deeply  down  to  the  skin,  notwithstanding  the  fact 
that  deficient  underbarring  and  lighter,  less  sharp'ly  defined 
barring  in  the  undercolor  is  discounted  from  one-half  point  to 
one  and  one-half  points  only. 

Exhibitors  or  judges  who  cultivate  this  special  fondness  for 
superior  development  in  any  one  section  of  a  breed  or  variety 
will  sooner  or  later  realize  their  mistake ;  for  it  is  the  exhibitor 
and  judge  that  stick  to  the  Standard,  obey  its  laws  and  require- 
ments, who  will  win  out  in  the  short  or  long  run  always. 

The  Standard  Is  the  Judge's  Guide. — The  American  Stand- 
ard of  Perfection  describes  the  shape  and  color  sections  in  each 
variety  of  all  recognized  breeds  of  poultry,  gives  the  general 
and  specific  disqualifications  for  which  exhibition  specimens 
are  to  be  disqualified  by  the  judges,  defines  under  "Instruc- 
tions to  Judges"  the  most  important  laws  which  govern  the 
selection  of  prize  winners,  while  under  "Cutting  for  Defects" 
and  "In  Applying  the  Comparison  System,"  rules  are  laid 
down  for  the  judge's  guidance  when  examining  and  adjudi- 
cating all  specimens  in  whatever  classes  they  may  be  as- 
signed to. 

The  foundation  of  American  poultry  culture  rests  upon  the 
American    Standard    of    Perfection    and    every    poultry    judge 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  353 

should  bear  this  in  mind.  The  Standard  is  supreme  law,  first, 
last  and  all  the  time.  The  breeder,  exhibitor  or  judge  who 
fails  to  recognize  it  as  such  destroys  whatever  chances  he  may 
have  to  make  good. 

Judging  by  the  Standard. — The  American  Standard  of  Per- 
fection being  the  law,  as  well  as  the  guide,  for  the  poultry 
judge,  he  must  be  thoroughly  posted  on  its  requirements  be- 
fore attempting  to  adjudicate  in  any  classes  at  a  poultry  exhi- 
bition. A  thorough  study  of  the  rules  which  govern  judging 
is  of  the  greatest  importance,  as  more  protests  against  awards 
are  based  on  the  failure  to  observe  these  rules  than  on  errors  of 
judgment.  Never  overlook  a  disqualificaiton  of  any  kind,  no 
matter  how  trivial  it  may  be,  or  how  much  the  mind  rebels 
against  throwing  out  a  surpassingly  fine  bird.  The  judge  sim- 
ply has  to  do  it  or  invite  protest.  The  Standard  may  seem 
wrong  to  him,  but  that  should  make  no  difference,  as  all  the 
specimens  entered  in  his  classes  have,  or  should  have,  been 
selected  by  the  exhibitors  according  to  the  same  Standard. 
The  judge  has  no  right  to  disregard  any  of  its  rules  if  he  de- 
sires to  remain  in  good  standing  in  his  profession. 

Another  important  point,  however,  and  one  that  must  never 
be  overlooked  is :  The  Standard  permits  the  judge  to  give 
the  benefit  of  any  doubt  he  may  have  in  his  mind  to  the  bird. 
A  superior  specimen,  the  best  in  its  class,  may  have  some 
defect  so  near  to  the  disqualifying  limit  that  an  over-zealous 
judge  will  exercise  arbitrary  powers  and  disqualify  the  bird. 
This  is  placing  a  radical  or  literal  construction  on  the  laws 
laid  down  by  the  Standard  certainly  not  intended  by  its  fram- 
ers.  A  judge  must  exercise  his  common  sense  in  interpreting 
all  such  laws.  To  throw  out  the  gem  in  any  class  because  a 
pinhead  spot  of  black  or  red  appears  in  a  white  feather  is  both 
suicidal  to  the  breed  or  variety  and  the  judge. 

Lastly,  a  judge  should  follow  Davy  Crockett's  advice — 
"Be  sure  you're  right,  then  go  ahead" — when  judging  poultry 
at  exhibitions.  Under  any  circumstances  he  must  make  his 
decisions  without  fear  or  favor  and  care  naught  for  what 
exhibitors  inay  say.  A  judge  is  an  individual  having  but  one 
opinion.  That  one  he  should  adhere  to.  Others  may  have 
different  ones,  but  that  need  not  influence  him  in  the  least. 
It  is,  however,  his  duty  toward  exhibitors  that  may  be  pres- 
ent and  who  courteously  ask  him  for  explanations  of  his  awards 
to  satisfy  them.  It  is  well  to  remember  that  many  exhibitors 
are  as  well  posted  on  the   merits   of  the  birds  entered  at  the 


354  AMEKICAX  I'Ol  LTRY  AHUOCIATIO^' 

shows  as  the  judge  himself,  and  some  may  know  even  better 
the  strong  points  of  the  best  birds.  Such  exhibitors  are  not 
kickers,  as  a  rule,  and  it  benefits  a  judge  to  associate  with  them 
after  the  show  is  over. 

First  Impressions  Are  Best. — First  impressions  of  any 
specimen  are  usually  the  most  reliable,  and  other  things  being 
equal  will  govern  final  decisions  of  the  thoroughly  competent 
judge,  one  who  is  thoroughly  "up"  on  the  breeds  or  varieties 
he  is  called  to  adjudicate  and  no  other  should  ever  be  engaged. 

The  real  judge  is  one  who — plus  training  and  experience — 
has  a  natural  instinct  for  discerning  the  best,  which  a  noted 
English  authority  claims  is  a  quality  given  to  but  few  men 
and  fewer  women,  adding:  "Well  do  I  remember  many  years 
ago  one  such  man,  though  there  have  been  several  others,  but 
I  mention  him  because  he  seldom  acted  as  judge,  although  one 
of  the  best  I  ever  knew.  Put  before  him  a  dozen  birds  or 
animals  of  any  breed,  even  though  he  had  never  seen  the  like 
before,  and  he  would  assuredly  pick  the  winners,  placing  them 
in  correct  order.  He  had  the  instinctive  capacity  which  enabled 
him  to  gauge  the  type  and  idealize  it." 

This  bears  out  the  adage:  "Judges  are  born — not  made," 
but  which  does  not  imply  that  training  and  experience  are 
not  required,  for  without  these  valuable  assets,  no  man  should 
accept  the  position  of  judge  of  important  classes  at  any  exhi- 
bition of  poultry. 

It  is  the  experienced  eye  of  the  judge  that  selects,  often 
at  first  glance,  the  bird  which  stands  out  among  all  the  rest 
and  this  one  and  the  others  must  be  measured  by  the  Standard 
ideal  as  it  exists  in  the  mind  of  the  judge,  provided  on  closer 
inspection  no  serious  defects  are  discovered,  which  would  debar 
them  from  winning.  We  call  attention  to  this  because  some 
good  breeders,  who  have  attempted  to  pass  judgment  on  poultry 
in  the  show  room,  have  failed  to  look  at  the  good  points  of  the 
fowl  but  have  started  right  off  hunting  for  defects.  They  wanted 
all  that  was  bad  and  overlooked  all  that  was  good  in  the 
birds. 

As  an  illustration,  we  will  cite  the  case  of  an  old  and  noted 
breeder  who  did  not  think  the  judge  placed  his  Buff'  Leghorn 
cockerels  correctly,  contending  that  the  second  and  third  prize 
birds  were  better  than  his  first,  just  because  the  latter  had  a 
tinge  of  bluish-gray  in  the  undercolor  of  the  back.  Yet  this 
cockerel  was  far  superior  in  surface  color  and  shape  to  the 
other  two.    All  the  owner  could  see  was  one  little  hidden  defect 


PLYMOVTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  Hoo 

in  color.  He  forgot  all  about  the  other  fine  qualities  of  the 
winning  cockerel.  He  judged  not  by  first  impressions,  but 
with  a  mania  for  discovering  imperfections. 

A  poultry  judge  should  be  an  optimist  always,  see  the  good 
and  then  discount  the  bad  points  of  a  specimen.  He  must 
bear  in  mind  that  there  are  twelve  sections  for  shape  and 
nearly  as  many  for  color,  besides  weight  and  condition,  which 
must  figure  in  the  complete  and  final  examination  of  every 
specimen.  However,  in  a  well  finished  and  matured  specimen, 
typical  shape  is  readily  seen  at  a  glance,  in  fact  a  real  top- 
notcher  stands  out  from  the  rest.  Other  things  being  equal, 
such  a  bird  will  win. 

Yet  it  may  so  happen  that  an  ideal  bird  in  type  and  size 
is  handicapped  by  a  bad  comb,  which,  with  the  faddist  judge, 
may  result  in  its  being  passed  by  without  further  examination 
or  patient  consideration  of  its  superior  merits  in  both  shape 
and  color.  And  therein  lies  the  chief  danger  in  awarding 
prizes  at  a  poultry  show,  for  this  one  glaring  defect  obscures 
the  vision  of  the  judge  who  happens  to  be  a  confirmed  defect 
hunter,  at  the  same  time  being  oblivious  to  the  existence  of 
the  Standard  which  describes  the  entire  bird,  even  to  placing  a 
limit  upon  penalties  for  defects. 

General  Disqualifications.  —  The  American  Standard  of 
Perfection,  under  "General  Disqualifications,"  describes  and 
enumerates  the  defects  which  will  disqualify  the  specimens  on 
which  they  are  discovered  by  the  judge.  In  most  instances 
the  descriptions  of  such  disqualifying  defects  are  defined  in 
clear  and  unmistakable  language,  but  in  several  others  there 
is  considerable  room  for  doubt,  requiring  intelligent  interpreta- 
tion and  generous  application  by  the  judge. 

For  instance,  where  it  reads :  "In  varieties  where  positive 
white  in  ear-lobes  is  a  disqualification,  judges  shall  disqualify 
for  unmistakable  evidence  of  an  attempt  to  remove  the  de- 
fect." The  words  "unmistakable  evidence"  should  be  carefully 
weighed  before  proceeding  to  disqualify  a  specimen,  as  the 
burden  of  proof  rests  with  a  judge,  should  an  exhibitor  demand 
an  explanation  in  the  event  of  having  a  specimen  disquali- 
fied for  removal  of  white  from  the  lobes.  To  be  on  the  safe 
side,  the  specimen  should  be  given  the  benefit  of  all  reasonable 
doubt. 

But  there  is  another  disqualification  clause  which  is  even 
more  delicate  of  adjustment,  as  it  is  more  difficult  of  inter- 
pretation, and  that  is :     "Faking  in  any  manner  shall  disqualify 


356  AMERICAN  POULTRY  A.S.SOGIATION 

the  specimen."     This  will  bring  up  the  perennial  query,  "What 
constitutes  faking?" 

To  define  "faking"  in  terms  that  will  prove  satisfactory  to 
all  good  poultry  breeders  is  a  difficult  matter ;  as  the  dividing 
line  between  real  faking,  such  as  bleaching  or  coloring  of  the 
plumage,  trimming  of  combs,  pulling  feathers  from  shanks  of 
clean-legged  birds,  and  the  methods  of  preparing  birds  lor 
the  show  room,  is  a  very  narrow  one,  especially  when  it  is 
considered  legitimate  to  pluck  many  feathers  from  a  parti- 
colored specimen  in  order  to  bring  out  the  color  markings  more 
distinctly  and  efifectively,  or  to  fluff  up  the  feathers  of  a 
Cochin,  pull  tails  of  a  Cochin  bantam  a  certain  length  of  time 
prior  to  a  show,  and  a  few  other  little  aids  or  "tricks  of  the 
trade"  in  fixing  up  exhibition  specimens.  It  will  keep  the 
judge  guessing  just  where  to  draw  the  line  in  most  of  the 
instances  stated  above. 

However,  the  disqualifying  clause  that  has  caused  judges 
more  trouble  and  annoyance  than  all  others  in  the  past  reads : 
"In  all  breeds  required  to  have  unfeathered  shanks,  any  feather, 
or  feathers,  stubs  or  down  on  shanks,  feet  or  toes ;  or  unmis- 
takable indication  of  feathers,  stubs  or  down  having  been 
plucked  from  same."  The  difficult  part  the  judge  must  play 
is  in  determining  whether  feathers  have  been  plucked  from 
the  shanks.  The  defect-finding  judge  will  do  the  microscopic 
act  in  order  to  discover  the  hole  or  incipient  stub.  The  experi- 
enced judge  will  obey  the  Standard  admonition  at  the  foot  of 
the  rule  for  "General  Disqualifications,"  which  reads :  "Under 
all  disqualifying  clauses,  the  specimen  shall  have  the  benefit 
of  the  doubt."  If  the  naked  eye  of  the  judge  cannot  detect 
a  stub  or  "unmistakable  evidence  of  feathers  having  been 
plucked,"  no  magnifying  lenses  or  pen  knives  need  be  resorted 
to  in  order  to  discover  a  puny  stub  located  somewhere  on  the 
otherwise  clean  shanks  of  a  specimen.  Exhibitors  are  human 
and  will  do  all  in  their  power  to  prepare  a  bird  which  will 
pass  muster  with  the  average  judge,  but  they  will  frown  on 
the  adjudicator  who  calls  to  his  aid  magnifying  glasses  or 
surgery  when  examining  the  legs  or  toes  of  fowls. 

Size  and  Condition. — The  size  and  condition  of  an  exhibi- 
tion specimen  often  determine  its  fate  in  the  show  room,  but 
great  care  should  be  exercised  by  the  judge  when  handling 
birds  that  appear  large  and  look  immaculate  in  their  feathered 
garb.  Looks  are  often  delusive,  especially  in  the  artificially 
prepared   exhibition   specimens   such   as   judges   are   confronted 


PLYMOCTH  ROCK  STAXDARD  A\D  BREED  BOOK  357 

with  in  the  white-pkimag-ed  varieties,  and  not  infrequently  in 
the  parti-colored  ones.  Cochins  which  appear  immense  in  size 
in  their  very  loose  feathering  which  has  been  curled  and 
fluffed  up  by  the  skilled  hand  of  the  exhibitor,  may  fall  short 
of  the  Standard  weight,  although  they  look  to  have  both  size 
and  weight. 

Size  is  a  relative  term,  so  when  two  specimens  are  com- 
pared, the  one  that  is  apparently  the  larger  will  win,  other 
points  being  equal.  But  the  weight  clause  is  the  only  safe  and 
correct  rule  to  apply  in  such  close  decisions. 

It  is  also  well  to  bear  in  mind  that  the  specimen  over 
Standard  weight,  while  larger  in  size,  may  be  coarser  in  type. 
As  the  veteran  Light  Brahma  breeder  and  judge  once  remarked 
to  an  old  judge  who  awarded  a  twelve-pound  Light  Brahma 
hen  a  prize  over  one  that  fell  a  trifle  under  the  Standard 
weight :  "When  we  want  meat,  we  go  to  market  for  it  where 
we  can  buy  it  for  a  shilling  a  pound."  Size  and  overweight  do 
not  make  Brahmas,  and  every  pound  over  the  Standard  weight 
destroys  the  type  by  making  the  specimen  coarser. 

What  applies  to  Light  Brahmas  will  apply  with  equal  force 
to  Plymouth  Rocks,  Wyandottes,  Rhode  Lsland  Reds  and  other 
breeds  subject  to  weight  clauses,  where  it  is  desirable  to  main- 
tain the  correct  typical  form  of  the  brood. 

The  size  and  weight  allotted  the  various  breeds  in  the  Ameri- 
can Standard  of  Perfection  is  based  on  the  careful  judgment 
of  the  poultry  breeders  of  the  United  States  and  Canada,  so 
that  a  strict  adherence  to  the  weight  clauses,  when  judging 
standard-bred  varieties,  is  compulsory. 

Relative  Value  of  Condition. — Condition  is  given  but  four 
points  in  the  "Scale  of  Points,"  for  nearly  all  breeds,  the 
exceptions  being  Sumatras,  Games  and  Malays,  which  have 
ten,  six  and  eight  points  allotted  to  them.  As  the  last  three 
mentioned  breeds  possess  special  characteristics  in  plumage, 
condition  is  a  most  important  factor  when  specimens  of  these 
fanciers'  breeds  are  exhibited  in  the  show  room. 

But  in  the  American  classes  four  points  are  sufficient,  as  few 
breeders  and  exhibitors  will  send  poorly  feathered  or  ill- 
conditioned  specimens  to  a  winter  show.  However,  at  a  summer 
or  fall  show,  due  allowance  must  be  made  for  the  condition 
of  adult  specimens,  as  few  if  any  are  through  their  natural 
molt,  consequently  will  not  "shape  up"  like  a  finished  speci- 
men, one  that  has  molted  in  a  completely  new  garb  of  feathers. 
Nevertheless,    shape    can    be    approximately    gauged    by    care- 


858  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

ful  inspection  of  the  body,  the  breadth  and  length  of  the 
back  and  breast  sections,  as  a  rule,  furnishing  a  good  indi- 
cation of  what  the  bird  will  develop  into  when  in  full  plumage. 
It  is  well  to  bear  in  mind  that  an  adult  specimen  exhibited  at 
an  early  show,  albeit  in  full  plumage  and  exhibited  in  excellent 
condition,  may  be  greatly  inferior  in  color  markings  to  one 
heavy  in  molt. 

Typical  Shape  and  Color.— "Shape  makes  the  breed,  and 
color  the  variety."  is  an  old  accepted  belief  among  poultry 
breeders  which  obviously  makes  types  or  shape  all  important 
in  a  breed,  and  no  judge  can  afford  to  sacrifice  shape  for 
color  alone.  American  poultry  judges  in  most  instances  have 
accepted  and  followed  this  belief,  but  in  England  the  type 
has  not  received  the  consideration  at  the  hands  of  English 
judges  the  Standard  demands,  a  fact  which  has  led  progress- 
ive poultry  edi/tors  and  breeders  to  issue  warnings  in  the  poultry 
press,  demanding  that  greater  value  be  placed  on  type  and  lesser 
consideration  be  given  to  color. 

The  American  Standard  of  Perfection  in  the  Scale  of 
Points  for  the  American  classes,  allows  nearly  an  equal  num- 
ber of  points  for  color  and  for  shape,  aside  from  comb,  which 
places  each  on  an  equal  footing,  consequently  both  must  receive 
the  same  consideration  when  specimens  are  judged  at  a  poultry 
show.  But  great  care  must  be  taken  in  balancing  defects, 
especially  in  varieties  where  color  markings  may  be  so  strik- 
ingly beautiful  that  the  judge  must  accord  to  such  their  full 
value  always,  no  matter  what  the  defects  in  shape  may  be. 
To  pass  by  a  magnificently  Penciled  or  Barred  Plymouth  Rock, 
simply  because  it  may  have  a  short  back  or  lean  neck,  is  not 
consistent  with  careful  and  sound  judgment. 

The  Standard  demands  that  such  consideration  be  given 
to  both  shape  and  color,  and  what  applies  to  Silver  Penciled 
Rocks,  for  instance,  whether  English  or  American  bred,  will 
apply  to  all  other  varieties  in  the  American,  English,  Mediter- 
ranean, French  or  other  Standard  classes.  The  Standard  rule 
in  applying  the  comparison  system  when  judging  typical  shape, 
reads :  'Tn  awarding  prizes  by  comparison,  judges  must  con- 
sider carefully  each  and  every  section  of  the  specimen  and  not 
allow  color  alone  to  influence  their  decision.  The  vital  im- 
portance of  typical  shape  is  to  be  borne  constantly  in  mind, 
at  the  same  time  giving  due  consideration  to  color  in  all  sec- 
tions, including  under-color." 


I'LYMOLTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  359 

And  in  judging  size,  the  rule  to  be  followed  is :  "In  de- 
termining size,  the  judge  shall  decide  by  comparing  the 
specimens  in  competition,  with  due  regard  to  weight  in  all 
breeds  and  varieties  where  weight  is  required  by  the  Standard. 
When  a  bird  fails  to  attain,  or  in  case  it  exceeds  the  size  pro- 
portionate with  type  or  shape,  it  must  be  discounted  quite 
severely." 

If  poultry  judges  will  obey  and  carry  out  these  two  rules 
when  adjudicating  their  classes  at  poultry  exhibitions,  satis- 
factory judging  will  be  the  rule.  For  a  thorough  knowledge 
of  the  Standard  requirements  of  all  breeds  and  their  varieties 
and  of  the  rules  governing  the  awarding  of  prizes  to  same, 
poultry  judges  (especially  the  younger  ones)  should  make  it 
a  point  to  visit  the  larger  winter  shows  for  the  purpose  of 
studying  the  winning  specimens  in  the  different  classes ;  a 
surpassingly  beautiful  bird  in  shape  and  color  will  make  a 
lasting  impression  on  the  minds  of  close  observers,  and  a  poultry 
judge  should  be  the  closest  observer  of  all.     (J.  H.  D.) 


SECTION     II. 

THE  EXHIBITOR'S  PART 

CHAPTER  I. 

EXAMINATION    OF    CANDIDATES   FOR   SHOW 
HONORS. 

CHAPTERS  upon  this  topic  are  generally  written  under 
the  title  of  "Selecting-  for  the  Show  Room,"  but  selection 
is  always  accomplished  by  examination ;  in  reality  it  is 
the  result  of  several  examinations  from  different  angles,  the 
candidate  for  show  honors  passing  successfully  through  at 
least  four  successive  examinations  before  it  is  finally  crated 
and  shipped  to  the  show  room,  where  it  is  to  undergo  final 
examination  at  the  hands  of  the  official  arbiter,  whose  decision, 
should  it  be  final  as  it  usually  is,  will  determine  whether  this 
particular  specimen  was  worth  while,  or  whether  it  was  a 
"misfit"  in  that  particular  select  company,  and  whether  your 
energy  was  well  directed  or  misspent.  Chances  of  misdirected 
effort  or  of  selecting  to  little  purpose  increase  with  com- 
petition, but  so  do  also  the  benefits  you  derive  from  winning 
in  such  competition  and  in  such  proportion  as  the  competition 
is  keen.  Your  interests  demand  that  misdirected  effort  in  all 
directions  be  as  far  as  possible  eliminated.  That  l)asic  law 
of  success  is  just  as  applicable  when  selecting  for  the  show 
room  as  at  any  other  time  and  in  any  other  place.  To  select 
wisely  and  well,  your  best  candidate  means  much  to  you  and 
something  to  the  poultry-loving  public.  To  you  it  means  the 
saving  of  labor,  expense  and  perhaps  chagrin.  To  the  public. 
the  elimination  of  poor  and  mediocre  specimens  means  a  better 
impression  and  increased  interest,  attitudes  worth  cultivating. 

The  Processes  of  Selection. — The  process  of  selection  of 
show  birds  as  it  is  practiced  by  the  experienced  exhibitor,  if 
analyzed,  consists  of  four  steps :  the  candidates  are  quite  loosely 
selected,  then  examined  closely,  and  carefully  and  critically 
compared  one  with  another,  after  which  the  selection  by  casual 
observation  is  confirmed  or  rejected. 

360 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  361 

The  First  Step. — Selection  is  dependent  upon  examination, 
casual  at  first  and  superficial,  necessarily,  as  it  is  the  superficial 
attractiveness  of  a  bird  that  must  first  catch  the  eye.  An  ex- 
ceptionally good  comb,  stylish  carriage,  symmetrical  form, 
strikingly  handsome  markings,  or  brilliant  colors,  are  super- 
ficial qualities  that  please  and  win  the  specimen  possessing  them, 
almost  instantly,  a  first  consideration. 

"Catchy  Quality." — This  "catchy  quality"  should  figure 
largely  in  the  selection  of  show  specimens  when  not  accom- 
panied by  too  serious  faults  as  it  means  beauty,  and  beauty 
coupled  with  utility  is  the  keynote  of  the  Standard. 

To  explain  the  phrase  "catchy  qualities"  would  be  difficult, 
though  to  define  it  would  be  easy.  It  simply  means  beauty  or 
attractiveness.  To  state  exactly  of  what  it  consists  is  prac- 
tically impossible.  However,  it  is  a  quality  recognized  by  both 
the  professional  and  the  amateur  and  must  always  be  reckoned 
with.  Many  birds  with  the  catchy  quality  lack  in  certain 
((ualities  and  they  become  what  is  known  as  "fillers." 

"Fillers." — -Fillers  are  used,  however,  in  the  keenest  com- 
petition and  one  expects  to  take  chances  with  a  few  of  good 
quality  if  they  have  characteristics  to  which  the  judge  is  known 
to  be  partial.  Fillers  are,  in  general,  birds  of  three  classes, 
first :  birds  of  no  more  than  average  merit  but  one  phenome- 
nally good  section,  or  quality,  which,  if  it  is  located  in  some 
prominent  section,  makes  the  specimen  very  attractive ;  sec- 
ond :  often,  however,  a  specimen  having  such  phenomenal 
qualities  in  one  or  perhaps  more  sections  is  correspondingly 
poor  in  possibly  an  equal  number,  yet  it  is  possible  that  the 
judge  and  even  popular  opinion  will  be  overawed  by  the  excel- 
lence of  the  section  of  phenomenal  merit,  while  the  faulty 
sections  will  be  overlooked ;  third :  the  class  of  birds  that  are 
known  as  good  all  around  specimens,  though  they  have  no 
serious  defects,  they  are  very  fair  in  all  particulars  and  meet 
technical  requirements  very  well,  but  they  lack  attractiveness. 
While  the  analysis  is  satisfactory,  the  catchy  qualities  are  decid- 
edly lacking.  Without  these,  it  is  seldom  that  a  bird  is  returned 
a  winner  in  close  competition. 

The  Second  Step. — Close  Examination. — A  winning  speci- 
men needs  more  than  the  power  to  attract  admiration.  It  needs 
also  the  power  to  retain  it  after  examination,  which  with  one 
who  has  accepted  certain  standards  of  beauty  means  that  the 
specimen  must  meet  the  requirements  of  such  a  standard  as 
the   person    who   conducts    such    an    examination    has    adopted. 


362  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

The  first  step,  the  selection  of  candidates  by  casual  observa- 
tion, usually  at  a  distance,  is  followed  by  an  examination  which 
should  involve  the  closest  and  most  critical  scrutiny,  section 
by  section,  as  to  their  conformity  with  the  requirements  of  the 
Standard  of  Perfection. 

Mental  processes,  even  with  the  best  trained  minds,  are 
too  restricted  to  attempt  to  accomplish  this  as  a  whole  or  in 
one  operation.  The  specimen  must  be  examined  carefully, 
section  by  section,  for  both  color  and  shape,  beginning  with 
symmetry  and  ending  with  legs  and  toes,  forgetting  none. 
Both  the  merits  and  defects  of  each  must  be  accurately  weighed, 
the  defects  because  they  count  against  the  specimen,  the  merits 
because  upon  these  depend  its  position  in  the  awards.  The 
examiner  must  expect  to  find  both  merits  and  defects.  These 
are  two  qualities  that  all  birds  possess.  None  are  perfect. 
and  no  well-bred  specimen  is  entirely  devoid  of  merit.  Unusual 
merit  in  one  or  more  sections  will  offset  defects  in  others. 
Good  color  will  offset  good  shape,  and  vice  versa.  In  some 
varieties  good  undercolor  offsets  to  a  certain  extent  defective 
surface  color,  while  in  other  varieties  undercolor  may  be  so 
universally  good  that  but  little  attention  is  paid  to  it  in  esti- 
mating comparative  merits  of  two  or  more  exhibition  speci- 
mens. In  still  other  instances,  undercolor  is  almost  wholly 
a  breeder's  point,  not  considered  very  seriously  in  the  esti- 
mation of  show  merit.  The  actual  consideration  of  the  different 
phases  of  each  section  of  each  variety  obviously  cannot  be 
treated  in  this  chapter,  as  such  consideration  forms  a  large  part 
of  the  entire  treatise. 

But  it  is  in  place,  however,  to  call  particular  attention  to 
the  chapters  on  common  defects  of  plumage  and  the  accom- 
panying illustrations,  which  should  be  studied  minutely  after 
a  good  mental  digest  of  the  standard  requirements  of  the  par- 
ticular variety  in  question.  Many  other  chapters  in  this  work 
would  assist  the  exhibitor  in  selecting  the  strongest  candi- 
date for  show  honors,  as  there  is  much  correlation  between 
breeding  and  exhibiting,  and  the  understanding  of  the  origin 
and  development  of  a  breed  or  variety  increases  the  capacity  of 
an  individual  to  comprehend  the  trend  of  public  opinion,  which 
as  well  as  the  Standard  has  its  influence  on  the  judge's  con- 
ception of  what  an  ideal  fowl  of  any  variety  should  be,  as  it 
has  had.  heretofore,  its  influence  upon  the  Standard's  printed 
description  of  the  same  thing. 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STAXDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  :^63 

Prime  Requisites  Overlooked. — There  are.  moreover,  some 
qualities  which  must  be  considered  that  are  usually  overlooked 
as  Standard  qualities,  though  they  should  not  be.  Health, 
vigor  and  a  generally  attractive  appearance  are  surely  most 
essential  considerations  in  final  selection  by  exhibitors  of  long 
experience.  It  is  clearly  the  intention  of  the  Standard  to  make 
these  requirements  of  prime  importance.  Health  is  demanded 
under  the  section  of  "condition,"  with  but  an  allowance  of 
four  points,  it  is  true,  but  even  at  that  it  is  next  to  impossible 
for  a  bird  to  win  unless  it  is  in  perfect  health,  or  we  might 
better  say,  in  good  condition,  which  means  more,  including 
both  good  health  and  good  feather.  It  is  not  necessary  that  a 
specimen  should  lose  the  total  allotment  of  four  points  to 
have  a  cut  on  condition  fatal  to  his  chance  of  winning.  Often 
a  loss  of  one  point  or  even  of  one-half  a  point  in  this  section  is 
fatal.  It  is  generally  essential  that  the  bird  be  perfectly  con- 
ditioned, if  it  is  to  be  a  possible  winner,  and  such  a  condition 
is  acquired  only  by  perfect  health,  which  is  confirmed,  per- 
haps, by  the  fact  that  it  has  already  been  selected  as  a  candi- 
date, which  should  be  reafiirmed  by  closest  examination.  To 
win  in  close  competition  without  this  quality  would  be  difficult, 
but  alone  it  is  not  enough  to  win  in  good  competition,  though 
it  is  sufficient  many  times  to  win  the  admiration  of  both  the 
novice  and  the  expert ;  that  of  the  latter  for  only  a  limited 
period,  however,  and  that  period  comparative  to  the  degree  of 
his  proficiency. 

Comparison  of  Candidates. — During  this  process  many  things 
must  be  taken  into  consideration  besides  comparing  one  section 
with  another  for  shape,  for  color,  or  for  both.  These  are :  The 
condition  of  the  bird,  the  health,  development  in  regard  to  shape, 
in  regard  to  plumage,  weight,  time  of  show,  or  length  of  time 
available  for  process  of  conditioning. 

When  the  time  for  the  final  consideration  of  the  different 
candidates  with  these  requisites  in  mind  draws  near,  much 
depends  on  whether  the  show  is  to  be  judged  by  score  cards  or 
comparison.  For  one  thing,  when  the  score  card  system  is 
to  be  used,  weight  becomes  of  much  importance.  A  bird  that 
is  a  pound  underweight  loses  according  to  standard  rules  two 
points,  and  the  ones  which  are  so  handicapped  must  excel  one- 
half  of  one  point  in  four  sections  to  get  on  even  terms  with 
one  not  thus  handicapped.  This  statement  gives  the  reader  an 
idea  of  the  handicap  of  underweight,  yet  it  is  not  unusual  to 
see  specimens  on  exhibition  more  than  a  pound  underweight. 


364  AMERfCAN  POULTRY  ASSOCfATION 

and  then  the  handicap  becomes  even  more  serious.  Very  often 
birds  of  naturally  very  superior  plumage  are  justly  defeated 
by  fully  matured,  up-to-weight  specimens.  x\s  a  rule,  well- 
balanced  birds,  or  birds  of  good  even  qualities  do  well  in 
score  card  exhibitions.  High  scoring  birds  are  often  those 
whose  fundamental  qualities  are  perfect.  If  a  specimen  be  fully 
up  to  weight,  in  good  plumage,  in  perfect  health,  and  perfect 
in  beak,  eyes,  and  legs,  and  has  a  nearly  perfect  comb,  it  is  a 
hard  bird  to  score  low,  even  if  it  has  only  fair  plumage.  The 
foregoing  attributes  are  what  we  term  the  fundamental  quali- 
ties, and  the  previous  statement  is  particularly  true,  if,  in  addi- 
tion, the  specimen  has  good  shape. 

When  the  Comparison  System  is  Used.— At  exhibitions 
governed  by  the  comparison  system,  first  impressions  un- 
doubtedly carry  more  weight  than  under  the  score  card  sys- 
tem, which  compels  minute  inspection,  not  merely  invites  it. 
First  impressions  are,  therefore,  important  and  such  birds 
as  described  near  the  beginning  of  this  chapter  are  the  ones 
which  catch  the  eye  at  first  glance  and  are  good  selections  as 
a  rule.  Not  only  do  first  impressions  count  more  but  if  a  speci- 
men under  the  comparison  system  fails  to  "score"  with  the 
first  impression,  that  specimen  is,  then  and  there,  down  and 
out.  It  must  possess  some  strongly  attractive  feature,  and  it 
must  be  one  that  impresses  the  judge  quickly.  What  that  fea- 
ture must  be  varies  widely  and  depends  somewhat  upon  the 
likes  and  perhaps  the  dislikes  of  this  or  that  particular  judge. 
It  might  be  shape  or  it  might  be  color.  It  should  be  without 
question  even  all-around  quality.  Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  a 
study  of  judges  as  well  as  a  study  of  standard  requirements  is 
very  often  important  in  the  solution  of  the  big  problem,  "HOW 
to  WIN  prizes."  Again,  the  excellence  of  the  markings  of 
one  or  more  sections,  possibly  the  condition  or  behavior  of  the 
specimen  in  the  show  coop,  the  ability  to  pose,  very  likely  will 
have  considerable  weight  with  the  judge  that  is  just  a  little 
emphatic  about  shape  requirements. 

It  would  be  well  at  this  stage  for  the  novice  to  take  from 
the  Standard  a  mental  or  written  list  of  all  possible  defects 
for  each  section  for  color  and  markings.  Defects  of  shape  are 
not  so  complicated  and  are,  therefore,  more  quickly  seen.  For 
example,  if  a  specimen  of  the  Buff  variety  was  to  be  examined. 
a  list  something  like  this  would  assist  the  novice :  Correct 
shade  of  color,  form,  uniform  surface  color,  edging,  mealiness, 
shaftiness,  sections  too  dark,  sections  too  light,  undercolor  too 
light,  black  or  white  in  tail,  in  wing,  etc. 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  365 

CHAPTER  II. 

CONDITIONING    FOWLS    FOR    EXHIBITION. 

Successful  showing  consists  of  two  things,  having  the  quaHty 
and  showing  it  properly.  The  gardener  who  raises  roses  for 
the  market  strives  to  place  them  on  the  market  when  they 
bring  the  greatest  price.  The  man  who  raises  broilers  for  a 
living  times  his  product  for  the  highest  market.  It  is  the 
exhibitor's  business  to  time  his  birds  for  the  exhibition  just 
as  the  gardener  and  market  poultryman  time  their  products  to 
be  at  their  best  at  the  most  advantageous  season. 

Regulating  Development. — The  second  principle  involves 
the  science  or  art  (may  we  say  knack?)  of  properly  rearing  a 
bird  and  timing  it  for  the  exhibition. 

The  phrase  "Every  dog  has  his  day,"  will  never  be  applied 
to  anything  more  forcefully  than  to  exhibition  poultry ;  the 
bird  that  was  a  "Never  Beaten"  last  week  is  a  "Has  Been" 
this,  and  we  see  it  exemplified  time  and  time  again.  There 
comes  a  time  in  the  life  of  every  young  bird  when,  seemingly, 
a  transformation  from  the  awkward,  angular  lines  and  short, 
scant,  rough  garb  of  the  chicken  to  the  full,  round  contour  and 
abundant,  sleek,  profusely  flowing  feathered  dress  of  maturity 
takes  place,  which,  on  account  of  its  brevity,  appears  almost 
magical.  It  is  well  then,  to  estimate  the  time,  even  the  mo- 
ment, which  you  can  from  years  of  experience  with  your  own 
strain  of  birds,  when  your  birds  will  be  fully  matured  in  form 
and  fully  fledged,  as  the  growing  proclivities  of  two  strains 
are  seldom  the  same.  Note  mentally  the  progress  and  de- 
velopment of  your  birds  each  year.  If  your  memory  is  in- 
capable of  carrying  the  relative  progress  of  your  birds  with 
reference  to  age  and  development,  keep  accurate  notes.  They 
will  be  both  interesting  and  instructive  if  kept  in  connection 
with  a  feather  album,  which  is  always  a  valuable  asset  to  any 
breeder's  library. 

Condition,  All-Important. — A  good  exhibition  specimen 
must  have,  first,  a  certain  degree  of  excellence  in  size,  shape  and 
plumage.  Excellent  quality  in  all  of  these  particulars  except 
size  passes  unnoticed  in  poorly  conditioned  birds. 

We  see  then  that  condition  is  an  all-important,  overshad- 
owing essential  to  a  winning  bird  and  without  approximate 
perfection   in  this   particular,   specimens   even   of  great   quality 


30G  AMERICAN  POULTRY  A>^HOVlAT10N 

naturally  will  seldom  win  in  close  competition.  With  some 
varieties,  the  relative  places  on  the  award  list  are  but  expres- 
sions of  the  degree  of  perfection  of  condition  of  the  specimens 
shown.  To  win,  some  varieties  are  more  dependent  upon  con- 
dition than  others.  Most  prominent  of  these  varieties  that  de- 
pend largely  upon  condition  to  win  are  all  black  and  all  white 
varieties,  and  varieties  of  the  red-black  color  patterns.  Some 
will  object  to  this  statement  as  too  broad  and  certainly  condi- 
tion with  nothing  back  of  it  will  never  win ;  but  just  as  cer- 
tainly will  perfect  condition  cover  many  defects  and  enable 
a  bird  of  average  exhibition  quality  to  win  over  one  naturally 
superior. 

Condition,  Examined. — What,  then,  does  condition  mean? 
What  does  the  word  embrace?  Many  things  and  various 
things :  in  some  birds,  it  means  the  proper  fluffy  effect  or 
looseness  of  feather;  in  others,  it  may  mean  the  opposite  or 
hardness  of  feather,  and  in  still  others,  the  American  varieties 
for  instance,  a  mean  between  these  two  extremes ;  in  all  varie- 
ties, the  necessary  weight,  the  health  and  vigor  that  gives  a 
bright  eye,  glowing  face,  slick  appearance  and  gloss  of  plum- 
age. The  shape  that  a  specimen  displays  in  an  exhibition  cage 
depends  upon  condition,  for  without  good  poise  no  specimen 
appears  to  good  advantage  and  poise  is  in  most  every  instance 
dependent  upon  condition.  Condition  of  exhibition  specimens 
consists  of  perfect  health,  full  developed  form  and  plumage, 
but  not  over-development  in  either,  the  required  smoothness 
and  hardness  or  looseness  of  feather,  the  acquired  tempera- 
ment and  docility  to  assume  and  maintain  perfect  poise,  or 
correct  carriage  without  which  no  specimen  can  create  the  im- 
pression of  form. 

In  the  acquiring  of  good  or  perfect  condition,  two  principles 
become  involved  and  must  receive  consideration.  The  first 
is  that — 

Winning  Quality  Is  Hereditary. — Good  showing  qualities 
and  aptness  for  good  condition  are  just  as  surely  transmitted 
from  generation  to  generation  as  any  characteristics  of  the 
species.  You  have  often  observed,  if  you  are  an  exhibitor, 
that  some  birds  condition  easily  while  it  is  almost  impossible 
to  make  others  acquire  the  smoothness  of  feather  and  the  style 
or  poise  that  gives  them  the  winning  quality.  Both  of  these 
characteristics,  sleek  plumage  and  poise,  are  hereditary  in  fowls 
just  as  much  as  good  combs,  strong  undercolor  or  straight 
barring.     A  Barred  Plymouth  male  that  lacks  a  certain  amount 


I'LYMOI'TH  ROCK  STAXDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  367 

of  style  should  be  rejected  just  as  quickly  as  one  that  fails  in 
undercolor,  and  any  male  that  does  not  possess  the  attribute 
of  smoothness  of  feather  should  not  be  considered  long  as 
a  candidate  for  the  head  of  a  breeding  yard.  So  much  for 
condition  and  heredity.  Do  not  accept  the  testimony  of  others, 
rather  make  careful  observations  along  these  lines  if  you  wish 
to  develop  a  line  of  winning  specimens. 

Fresh  Pltunaged  Birds  Win. — Young  birds  that  have  just 
attained  maturity  are  fresh  and  bright  in  plumage  and  fresh 
and  bright  birds  are  certainly  attractive  and  for  that  reason 
are  the  ones  that  usually  win.  This  necessitates  rapid  growth 
and  that  demands  free  range  and  skillful,  judicious  feeding. 
This  is  the  problem,  then,  to  solve :  how  are  some  birds  to  be 
pushed  forward  and  some  held  back,  so  that  the  entire  string 
may  be  shown  in  uniformly  perfect  condition  ? 

Right  here  is  where  the  writer  will  prove  disappointing, 
because  he  knows  no  magic  that  will  mature  the  immature 
or  freshen  the  fading  colors  of  those  that  are  past  prime. 

The  Art  of  Conditioning  No  Mystery. — There  are  a  few 
who  cling  to  the  idea  that  there  are  sublime  methods  for 
accomplishing  anything.  There  are  a  few  who  believe  that 
winning  specimens  are  made  so  by  occult  means.  Were  we 
to  find  some  agent  which  would  effect  such  a  marvelous  trans- 
formation in  our  flocks,  we  should  have  accomplished  no  less 
than  the  alchemists  of  old  undertook  when  they  sought  to  tind 
the  Philosopher's  stone,  a  reagent  that  would  form  a  i)anacea 
as  well  as  transmute  the  baser  metals  into  gold.  As  well 
dream  the  dreams  of  the  old  alchemists  as  to  expect  to  make 
winning  show  birds  by  any  except  the  most  thorough  processes 
of  nature. 

A  prominent  breeder  asked  another  at  one  of  the  New  York 
shows  how  he  managed  to  bring  such  a  good  conditioned  string 
of  cock  birds  to  the  show  year  after  year.  "Would  it  be  asking 
too  much  to  tell  me?"  said  he.  "Certainly  not,"  replied  the 
other,  "we  just  give  them  ample  range,  good  food  and  keep  the 
lice  from  them."  The  questioner  made  it  very  clear  that  he 
did  not  credit  the  answer.  He  was  evidently  a  believer  in  the 
occult.  But  as  a  fact,  aside  from  selecting  for  breeding  year 
after  year  very  smooth  males,  that  successful  exhibitor  did 
nothing  more  than  he  suggested  to  his  questioner,  who  was 
and  still  is  one  of  the  largest  breeders  of  his  variety. 

The  Pleasing  Bird  Wins. — The  question  naturally  arises. 
"Why  is  a  winning  bird?"     The  answer  would  seem  to  be  one 


308  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

that  most  nearly  meets  the  requirements  of  the  Standard  of 
Perfection.  But  is  it?  It  is  not  always,  even  with  the  most 
conscientious  and  the  keenest  judges.  There  is  in  some  birds  a 
certain  quality  that  is  very  hard  to  describe  unless  we  limit 
that  description  to  one  word  and  call  it  the  "catchy"  quality, 
or  the  "pleasing"  bird,  as  it  is  expressed  by  the  more  refined 
exponents  of  the  craft. 

Under  our  present  mode  of  comparison  judging,  and  this 
mode  has  its  advantages  as  well  as  its  drawbacks,  the  order 
seems  to  be  that  the  catchy  or  pleasing  specimens  are  picked 
out  and  then  examined  for  defects  according  to  the  judges' 
interpretation  of  the  Standard.  Under  this  method  the  bird 
in  poor  condition  and  the  one  that  has  not  catchy  qualities 
fare  alike,  being  passed  by  while  the  pleasing  bird,  if  he  has 
no  glaring  faults,  has  a  good  chance  to  win. 

Too  Close  Cooping. — There  are  several  methods  of  more 
or  less  merit  of  fitting  for  the  show  room.  The  best  is  to  let 
the  bird  fit  itself ;  the  poorest,  and  that  which  is  more  gener- 
ally used,  consists  in  confining  the  bird  to  an  exhibition  cage 
two  or  three  feet  square  and  either  starving  it  or  stuffing  it  as 
the  fancy  of  the  owner  dictates.  In  such  quarters,  this  bird 
has  the  pleasure  of  moping  around  for  two  or  three  weeks.  It 
has  a  clean  coop,  perhaps,  plenty  of  the  best  of  food  and  a 
nice  bright  tin  cup  to  drink  out  of,  but  after  all  that  has  been 
done,  this  bird  is  being  subjected  to  the  most  unnatural  life 
that  a  fowl  could  live.  If  the  cage  is  kept  clean,  the  bird  is 
clean  also,  but  its  appetite  soon  diminishes,  its  digestion  is 
soon  disordered,  its  feathers  soon  become  rough,  and  its  head 
loses  color.  The  bird  deteriorates  from  the  moment  that  it  is 
put  into  the  cage.  The  only  advantage  is  that  you  have  a  tame 
bird.  Unless  it  is  endowed  with  an  tmusual  amount  of  vitality, 
it  has  become  so  lifeless  and  docile  that  it  should  not  even,  in 
many  cases,  be  admitted  to  classification  in  the  gallinaceous 
division.  Of  all  the  idiotic  methods  that  poultrymen  employ, 
this  is  the  most  stupid  and  foolish. 

Range  the  Best  Conditioner. — Those  who  have  exhibited 
at  the  early  winter  shows  say  the  early  part  of  December  or 
the  latter  part  of  November  may  have  been  favored  by  one 
of  our  occasional  warm  autumns,  when  the  weather  permitted 
keeping  the  birds  out  on  the  sunnner  runs.  Under  these  cir- 
cumstances the  birds  probably  went  into  the  shows  in  the  best 
possible  condition.  If  such  is  not  your  experience,  it  is  the 
experience  of  others.     It  should  be    therefore,  our  aim  to  pro- 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  369 

vide  the  candidates  for  show  honors  with  as  near  natural  con- 
ditions as  the  usual  severe  winter  weather  and  sometimes  sev- 
eral feet  of  snow  will  permit.  The  greatest  benefits  that  a 
bird  can  receive  are,  of  course,  derived  from  range  conditions, 
but  under  the  conditions  mentioned,  range  is  out  of  the  ques- 
tion. How,  then,  can  we  supply  a  substitute?  By  afifording 
the  bird  a  chance  for  exercise  and  by  compelling  it  to  exercise 
if  it  is  not  so  inclined,  and  by  supplying  those  things  that  con- 
finement and  the  season  of  the  year  rob  it  of.  Added  to  these, 
there  are  some  artificial  methods  that  are  simple  and  harmless 
which  we  shall  speak  of  later. 

Food  and  Exercise. — Take  the  case  of  a  young  male  bird 
that  is  to  be  conditioned  for  winter  shows  under  the  usual 
conditions  when  protection  from  the  weather  is  necessary  and 
confinement  unavoidable.  Growth  must  be  promoted  and  health 
of  the  most  vigorous  kind  maintained.  The  quarters  are  the 
first  essential.  He  should  be  penned  by  himself,  with  one 
female,  or  some  younger  cockerels.  In  general  the  larger  the 
pen,  the  better,  but  one  eight  feet  by  nine,  and  even  smaller, 
will  answer  in  most  instances. 

The  floor  should  be  of  dry,  clean  sand  if  possible  to  obtain 
it  at  a  reasonable  amount  of  expense  or  trouble,  covered  with 
a  litter  of  dry  straw.  The  straw  need  not  be  cut,  as  the  birds, 
if  properly  trained,  will  break  it  up  in  a  short  while.  This 
litter  should  be  from  two  to  four  inches  deep,  varying  with 
the  size  of  the  birds ;  the  larger  the  birds  the  deeper  the  litter. 

The  Feeding  Method. — In  the  morning  throw  in  a  small 
handful  of  scratch  feed,  scattering  it  well.  After  an  hour  of 
brisk  exercise,  give  some  warm  mash  but  do  not  allow  them 
too  much,  because  if  not  hungry,  the  birds  will  not  exercise. 
A  heaping  teaspoonful  or  two  is  about  all  that  the  average 
bird  will  consume  without  becoming  inactive,  and  unless  he 
eats  this  eagerly  and  rapidly,  it  is  too  much.  An  hour  or  two 
later  scatter  more  scratch  feed  and  set  them  to  work  again. 
If  the  birds  are  immature  and  you  wish  to  force  them  a  little, 
feed  another  small  amount  of  mash  at  noon.  An  hour  later 
a  few  kernels  of  small  grains  will  induce  more  exercise,  while 
for  the  evening  meal,  a  generous  supply  of  good  grain  should 
be   allowed. 

It  should  be  kept  constantly  in  mind  that  rapid  growth  de- 
pends upon  the  amount  of  food  the  bird  can  consume  and 
assimilate,  and  that  exercise  stimulates  the  appetite,  aids  diges- 
tion and  increases  assimilation  of  the  foods  consumed,  hardens 


370  AMERWAX  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

the  muscles  and  promotes  the  most  rugged  heahh  and  vigor ; 
which  facts  sufficiently  explain  the  reasons  for  feeding  often  in 
small  portions. 

Green  food,  he  should  have  a  little  of  and  but  a  little.  Grit 
and  oyster  shells  he  should  have  in  abundance  at  all  times. 

A  Good  Mash  Makes  Flesh. — A  mash  helps  the  bird  to 
acquire  flesh,  but  too  much  of  it  overloads  the  crop  and 
hunger  being  satisfied,  the  bird  refuses  to  exercise ;  conse- 
quently, it  will  not  eat  as  much  nor  can  its  system  assimilate 
as  much.  The  ingredients  of  the  mash  may  vary  somewhat. 
Cornmeal  and  bran  may  be  mixed  with  a  very  small  quantity 
of  white  flour  middlings  in  such  a  proportion  that  the  masli 
is  a  substantial  but  not  a  sticky  mass.  It  should  be  mixed 
with  boiling  water,  merely  hot  water  does  not  do.  It  must 
cook  to  get  the  desired  effect.  To  that  end  it  should  be  packed 
closely  together  and  covered  for  a  time.  After  standing  for 
half  an  hour,  uncover  and  stir.  Allow  it  to  cool  until  it  is 
warm  but  not  hot ;  then  you  have  the  food  for  a  meal  that  the 
fowls  will  relish. 

For  scratch  feed,  any  of  the  small  grains  will  do.  Oats 
are  very  good,  so  is  wheat  if  you  are  not  using  it  for  a  night 
feed.  But  the  prepared  scratch  feeds  are  to  be  preferred 
above  all,  if  they  are  made  of  good  grain,  for  two  reasons : 
first,  for  the  variety  they  supply,  but  principally  for  the  fact 
that  the  grains  are  cracked  into  small  bits,  which  make  the 
fowls  do  the  maximum  amount  of  work  for  the  minimum 
amount  of  food. 

For  the  final  feed  at  night,  nothing  compares  with  wheat 
of  the  best  quality.  This  is  the  main  food,  but  may  be  alter- 
nated with  barely  with  good  results.  For  fowls  that  are 
inclined  to  get  too  fat,  barley  is  preferable  to  wheat. 

Forcing  Immature  Birds. — Birds  that  are  very  iminature 
and  that  it  seems  advisable  to  force  along  as  fast  as  possible 
may  take  a  quite  different  ration  from  those  that  are  grown 
or  have  ample  time  to  grow.  An  excellent  mash  may  be  made 
as  follows :  Put  hamburg  steak  to  boil  in  cold  water,  allow 
it  to  boil  until  the  amount  of  water  is  small,  and  then  thicken 
with  cornmeal  and  a  little  bran.  This  may  be  fed  once  a  day, 
but  not  in  such  quantities  that  the  bird  is  forced  off  his  feet. 
This  bird  should  be  kept  scratching  as  the  others,  but  he  may, 
if  hearty,  be  fed  more  heavy  grains.  A  good  variety  wall  force 
a  bird  along  faster  than  a  limited  diet. 

A  very  appetizing  meal  is  made  of  broken  crackers  and 
cornmeal    and   bran.     The   birds    like    this,    especially     if    the 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  371 

crackers  are  the  sweet  kind,  and  if  not,  they  can  be  sweetened 
with  sugar  or  molasses.  The  value  of  the  food  as  a  weight 
producer  may  be  further  enhanced  by  mixing  with  scalded 
milk.  It  should  not  be  forgotten  that  these  birds  must  be 
growing  feathers  and  that  it  is  sometimes  necessary  to  aid 
them  in  this.  Nothing  that  I  know  of  is  any  better  for  aiding 
feather  development  than  dessicated  fish.  A  little  may  be 
added  to  one  of  the  mashes  each  day. 

The  Best  Forcing  Menu. — To  make  myself  plain,  the  best 
forcing  feed  consists  of  the  broken  scratch  feed,  the  sweet 
cracker  mash  and  the  beef  and  meal  mash  with  wheat  or 
mixed  grain  for  the  hearty  meal  at  night.  In  very  cold 
weather  a  few  kernels  of  whole  corn  might  be  thrown  the 
birds,  after  the  evening  meal  and  the  last  thing  before  they 
go  to  roost.  A  very  little  buckwheat  may  be  added  to  the 
grain  mixture. 

Feeding  for  Color. — With  reference  to  feeding,  two  classes 
of  birds  might  be  considered,  as  each  class  must  be  fed  in  a 
different  manner.  They  may  be  divided  into  white  birds  and 
others.  The  methods  of  feeding  each  differ,  but  the  methods 
that  have  already  been  described  are  tolerably  well  suited  to 
either  class.  These  methods  can  be  modified  somewhat  and 
are  then  better  adapted  to  each  of  the  special  classes. 

Feeding  White  Birds. — By  white  birds,  I  refer  to  those  that 
have  white  in  their  plumage,  not  necessarily  only  the  solid 
white  varieties.  Barred,  Silver  Penciled,  and  Columbian 
Plymouth  Rocks,  for  instance,  should  be  fed  precisely  as  pure 
white  birds  are. 

It  is  a  generally  recognized  principle  that  clear  white  color, 
often  described  as  pearl  white,  chalk  white,  or  dead  white, 
cannot  be  obtained  in  its  clearness  and  purity  when  these  white 
birds  are  allowed  oily  foods.  Therefore,  yellow  corn,  meat 
scraps,  meat  fats,  or  any  foods  of  an  oily  nature  are  excluded 
from  their  diet.  Those  who  wish  to  feed  meat  and  are  still 
very  cautious,  may  boil  fresh  beef,  allow  the  liquor  to  stand 
and  cool,  when  the  fat  may  be  skimmed  off.  The  meat  and 
broth  may  be  reboiled  and  stirred  into  the  mash,  which  has 
already  been  thoroughly  mixed.  Cut  green  bone  should  be 
treated  in  the  same  manner,  if  fed  to  white  or  partially  white 
birds.  After  boiling  both  lean  meat  and  green  cut  bone,  you 
will  find  an  amount  of  fat  that  will  surprise  you. 

Foods  That  Develop  Gloss. — For  the  varieties  which  re- 
quire a  glossy  plumage,  the  fats  and  oils  are  a  great  help  if 


372  AMERICAN  POULTRY  AfiliOCIATION 

not  an  absolute  necessity  in  getting  birds  of  certain  colors  into 
good  condition.  The  best  foods  to  produce  gloss  are  corn, 
buckwheat,  sunflower  seed,  beef  scraps  and  beef  tallow.  These, 
with  the  single  exception  of  corn,  cannot  be  used  in  quantity 
or  as  staple  foods,  as  they  "age"  the  plumage  and  impair 
digestion  if  given  in  excess.  A  wonderfully  glossy  plumage 
may  be  produced  in  a  remarkably  short  time  if  conditions  are 
favorable.  Besides  oily  food,  plenty  of  sunlight  and  housing 
conditions  that  embrace  dryness  and  very  moderate  tempera- 
tures are  necessary. 

Constant  attention  wherever  administered  is  beneficial  to 
fowls  for  whatever  purpose  kept,  and  particularly  so  to  fowls 
that  are  being  conditioned  for  shows,  but  is  not  absolutely 
necessary.  Many  exhibitors  are  so  situated  that  they  cannot 
attend  their  fowls  during  the  day.  I  believe  that  the  best 
method  they  can  pursue  is  to  feed  the  mash  late  in  the  after- 
noon, and  in  the  morning,  give  the  birds  grain  in  deep  but 
light  litters  to  scratch  for  during  the  day.  Many  contrivances 
may  be  devised  to  induce  or  even  compel  exercise ;  for  instance, 
a  cabbage  may  be  hung  so  high  that  they  will  have  to  jump 
a  little  to  reach  it.  Grains  may  be  fed  in  automatic  feeders 
in  connection  with  deep  litters,  etc. 

Grouping  the  Birds  To  Be  Conditioned. — The  grouping  or 
arranging  of  the  birds  with  relation  to  their  association  with 
one  another  has  oftentimes  much  to  do  with  their  develop- 
ment. A  male  put  alone  sometimes  loses  his  interest  in  life, 
but  not  always.  If  he  is  a  cock  bird,  one  or  two  hens  that  arc 
active  and  alert  should  be  placed  with  him.  If  it  is  necessary 
to  raise  his  weight,  feed  him  alone,  once  or  more  daily.  A 
cockerel  may  be  allowed  to  run  with  one  or  two  hens,  but  if 
he  is  not  too  far  along,  it  is  preferable  to  allow  the  society  of 
two  to  four  young  cockerels.  If  he  maltreats  them,  there  are 
but  two  alternatives  left,  the  society  of  females,  or  isolation. 
Young  males,  not  too  far  along,  generally  do  best  in  flocks  of 
six  to  eight,  but  these  must  have  grown  up  together.  Even 
then  the  time  will  come  when  they  must  be  closely  watched. 
At  the  first  signs  of  fighting,  both  birds  must  be  removed. 
Females  can  be  kept  in  groups  of  four  to  six.  Quarrelsome 
females  must  be  kept  alone,  as  they  are  sure  to  ruin  the  good 
appearance  of  their  companions. 

Taming  the  Show  Bird. — A  show  bird  should  be  tame,  so 
that  it  does  not  become  frightened  when  handled.  The  ad- 
vantage that  a  bird  that  will  pose  while  the  judge  is  in  front  of 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  373 

the  cage  and  handling  it,  has  over  one  that  gets  all  out  of 
shape  the  moment  the  judge  touches  it,  is  obvious.  While 
continuous  cooping  of  any  fowl  is  a  crime  against  good  condi- 
tion and  even  against  good  sense,  a  half-hour  a  day  or  so  is 
necessary  for  all  candidates  for  show  honors.  The  bird  may 
be  tamed  quickly  while  cooped  by  offering  tid-bits  such  as 
meat  and  kernels  of  whole  corn  from  the  hand.  By  stroking 
with  the  hand,  the  bird  can  be  taught  the  correct  pose  for  the 
show  coop. 

Washing  the  White  Fowls. — In  these  days  of  strong  com- 
petition, an  unwashed  white  bird  is  practically  debarred  from 
winning.  An  unwashed  bird,  be  it  ever  so  white,  looks  very 
cheap  beside  a  well-washed  one  of  much  inferior  color.  This 
is  a  branch  of  the  industry  in  which  a  certain  few  have  become 
so  proficient  that  it  is  practically  impossible  for  anyone  not 
expert  in  this  line  to  defeat  them.  There  are  many  soaps 
and  preparations  used  for  washing  white  fowls,  but  Ivory 
soap  and  soap-bark  are  the  most  generally  used.  The  best 
washers  thoroughly  lather  the  birds  to  the  skin,  and  use  two 
rinse  waters.  The  last  water  contains  a  very  little  blueing. 
This  will  show  in  the  feathers  if  too  much  is  used  and  be- 
ginners are  almost  sure  to  use  too  much.  If  not  thoroughly 
rinsed,  so  that  all  the  soapy  water  is  removed,  the  feathers 
will  curl  and  crinkle. 

In  late  years  much  is  hinted  at  concerning  the  use  of 
bleaching  agents  that  bleach  a  creamy  or  yellow  bird,  other- 
wise fine,  so  that  it  becomes  a  winner.  No  doubt,  hydrogen 
peroxide,  the  active  agent  of  which  is  a  free  atom  of  oxygen, 
is  used  to  a  certain  extent.  So  is  ammonia  and  other  cleaning 
agents.  Their  value  lies  more  in  their  power  to  remove  stains 
and  dirt  than  in  any  real  bleaching  process  that  takes  place. 

The  process  of  drying  is  very  important  and  is  in  itself  an 
art.  The  most  effective  method  of  whitening  a  bird  is  to 
repeat  the  washings.  Persistency  in  this  counts  as  in  every- 
thing else. 

The  best  treatment  for  the  comb,  face  and  wattles  of  a 
perfectly  healthy  bird  is  to  wash  in  soap  and  water,  dry  and 
let  alone.  When  the  face  does  not  show  good  color,  massage 
and  treat  with  a  very  small  amount  of  vaseline.  To  keep  the 
color  in  the  face,  repeat  the  massage  with  a  small  bit  of  vase- 
line. This  treatment  is  simple  and  will  bring  more  color  than 
would  be  supposed.  There  are  many  lotions  and  drawing, 
burning  liquids  that  are  applied,  but  they  are  all  at  best  but 


374  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

temporarily  efficient.     A  short  while  after  the  application,  the 
head  possesses  less  color  than  before. 

Cleaning  Shanks  and  Toes. — The  shanks  and  toes  should 
be  washed  in  warm  soap-suds,  dried,  and  then  treated  with 
cottonseed  oil,  vaseline,  or  something  of  that  nature.  When 
there  is  much  dirt  under  the  scales,  it  should  be  removed, 
which  can  best  be  accomplished  with  an  ordinary  wooden 
toothpick  dampened  with  some  cleansing-  liquid.  Many  shanks 
and  toes  are  improved  by  brushing  dry,  with  a  stifif  brush 
before  using  the  soap  and  water. 

WASHING    AND    CONDITIONING    WHITE    BIRDS    FOR 
THE   SHOW  ROOM. 

Washing  white  birds  properly  presents  one  of  the  greatest 
difficulties  to  the  amateur  fancier.  To  get  any  bird  into  the 
show  room  in  perfect  condition,  is  really  quite  an  art ;  and 
white  birds  present  the  additional  problem  of  washing.  There 
is,  however,  no  reason  why  anybody,  who  is  careful  and  pains 
taking,  can  not  show  white  birds  in  good  condition.  Birds 
other  than  white  seldom  require  washing,  except  where  a  bird 
has  become  very  much  stained  or  soiled,  in  which  case  a  care- 
ful .  washing  will  improve  them.  The  following  instructions 
about  temperature  of  water,  in  drying  room,  and  other  condi- 
tions, will,  if  carefully  followed,  bring  success. 

Coop  Training. — All  birds  that  are  to  be  shown,  whether 
they  are  to  be  washed  or  not,  should  be  cooped  up  in  cages 
similar  to  those  used  in  the  shows.  Coop  them  up  for  about 
three  days,  so  they  may  become  accustomed  to  the  cage  and 
to  being  handled  by  their  attendant.  Then  put  them  back  into 
their  usual  run  for  a  few  days.  Alternating  in  this  way,  they 
will  get  the  necessary  coop  training  and  show-manners  with- 
out becoming  stale  from  too  long  confinement  in  small  quar- 
ters. Unless  the  bird  has  some  such  preliminary  training,  to- 
gether with  such  special  feeding  as  his  condition  requires,  no 
matter  how  excellent  the  wash,  he  will  not  appear  at  his  best. 
This  preliminary  training  should  extend  over  a  period  of  about 
two  or  three  weeks. 

Equipment. — Birds  should  be  washed  from  forty-eight  to 
sixty  hours  before  they  are  shipped  to  the  show  room.  If  you 
are  going  to  wash  many  birds,  a  rubber  apron  and  rubber 
boots  will  be  necessary.     The  details  of  washing  white  birds 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  375 

are  as  follows :  Start  with  three  ordinary  wash  tubs  about 
half  full  of  water  at  a  temperature  of  from  103  to  110  degrees. 
Birds  can  be  washed  in  a  room  at  a  temperature  of  about  70 
degrees,  which  is  as  warm  as  an  attendant  can  work  in  com- 
fortably. 

The  Process. — Grasp  the  bird  tirmly  by  the  legs,  lower  him 
into  the  water,  and  begin  washing  by  lathering  him  with  a 
cake  of  soap.  Soap  counteracts  the  oil  in  the  bird's  feathers 
and  allows  the  water  to  penetrate  to  the  skin.  Be  careful  in 
handling  the  feathers  until  you  get  them  thoroughly  wet; 
afterwards  you  can  rub  them  enough  to  build  up  a  heavy 
lather  all  over  the  bird,  very  similar  to  the  process  of  sham- 
pooing the  hair.  Then  rinse  this  lather  out,  and  repeat  the 
same  process.  If  the  bird  seems  very  dirty,  give  him  even  a 
third  lathering.  The  rinsing  of  the  heavy  lather  out  of  the 
feathers  seems  to  carry  all  the  dirt  and  stain  away.  Then  go 
over  the  bird's  comb,  face,  wattles  and  legs  with  a  nail-brush 
and  heavy  lather.  Also  scrub  the  wings  and  any  stained  spot 
on  the  bird's  plumage  with  the  nail-brush.  Then  thoroughly 
rinse  the  bird  successively  in  the  second  and  third  tubs  of 
water.  You  can  wash  from  four  to  six  birds,  according  to  how 
dirty  they  are,  before  changing  the  water.  Then  empty  all 
three  tubs  and  start  again  with  clean  water. 

The  Water. — The  character  of  the  water  you  use  will  influ- 
ence results  to  a  considerable  extent.  Soft  water,  that  is  also 
white,  will  give  better  results  than  hard  water.  Sometimes 
water  contains  iron  or  other  mineral  substances  that  affect  the 
color  and  the  finish  of  the  feathers.  You  can  generally  find 
suitable  water  in  every  locality,  by  a  little  effort,  or  you  can 
catch  rain  water,  melt  snow  or  overcome  the  difiiculty  in  some 
way.  Borax  or  ammonia  are  sometimes  used  to  soften  hard 
water,  and  they  help  some ;  but  all  such  agencies  have  a  ten- 
dency to  injure  the  fabric  of  the  feather,  and  you  do  not  get 
quite  the  beautiful  satin  finish  with  anything  but  pure,  naturally 
soft  water  and  some  mild  soap.  All  of  these  things  have  to  be 
carefully  considered. 

Blueing. — Until  very  recently,  all  white  birds  were  b'ued 
slightly  in  the  last  rinsing,  and  this  practice  was  used  by  all 
conditioners  for  many  years,  but  is  gradually  being  abandoned, 
for  the  reason  that  otherwise  well  conditioned  birds  were  left 
out  of  the  awards  every  year  on  account  of  being  too  blue, 
streaked  with  blue,  or  in  some  way  presenting  a  bad  appear- 
ance on  this  account.     If  done  just  right,  this  may  add  slightly 


37G  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

to  the  apparent  whiteness  of  the  bird  ;  but  it  is  impossible  to 
give  expHcit  directions  for  blvieing,  for  the  reason  that  water 
from  different  sources  requires  different  amounts  of  blueing  to 
produce  the  best  results,  and  the  different  blueings  that  are 
sold  throughout  the  country  dift'er  very  materially  in  strength 
and  composition.  So,  if  you  adopt  this  practice,  you  will  have 
to  experiment  beforehand  as  to  the  amount  of  blueing  you  will 
use.  The  amount  that  produces  good  results  in  the  laundry  is 
generally  also  about  right  for  birds. 

Drying. — After  the  bird  is  washed  and  rinsed,  put  him 
into  a  coop  similar  to  those  used  in  the  show  room ;  and  if 
possible,  one  having  a  wire  netting  bottom,  so  that  he  can 
drain  out  for  about  fifteen  minutes.  Then  transfer  him  to  a 
coop  in  a  room  where  the  temperature  is  from  85  to  90  degrees. 
He  will  dry  out  there  in  proper  shape  in  three  or  four  hours. 
Then  gradually  reduce  the  temperature  to  about  70  degrees,  at 
which  temperature  the  room  should  be  kept  for  eight  or  ten 
hours  longer.  After  that  he  should  be  able  to  stand  normal 
temperature  as  before  washing. 

Some  of  the  larger  farms  have  special  rooms  fitted  up  for 
washing  and  drying,  arranged  so  that  they  can  have  rooms  at 
different  temperatures.  Lacking  this  equipment,  you  can  get 
about  the  same  results  by  moving  your  birds  to  and  from  the 
fire  or  other  source  of  heat.  You  can  tie  a  thermometer  to 
the  front  of  the  coop  in  which  your  bird  is  drying,  and  keep 
him  in  about  the  correct  temperature  in  that  way.  To  a  cer- 
tain extent,  the  actions  of  the  bird  indicate  the  proper  tem- 
perature ;  as,  when  he  is  shivering,  get  him  closer  to  the  fire ; 
and,  if  he  begins  to  pant,  it  is  time  to  move  him  back.  Indi- 
vidual birds  differ  as  to  the  amount  of  heat  they  need  and  can 
stand;  and  they  will  indicate,  to  the  observant  attejidant,  the 
proper  procedure. 

Drying  Long  Tails. — In  washing  a  Leghorn  or  any  bird 
that  has  long  sickles,  it  is  well  to  fan  his  tail  out  after  he  has 
been  drying  about  an  hour,  or  just  as  the  feathers  begin  to 
web.  Let  one  person  hold  the  bird,  and  an  assistant  fan  the 
tail  for  about  fifteen  minutes.  Otherwise  the  sickles  are  liable 
to  dry  twisted  or  to  come  with  a  poor  finish  on  the  edge. 

Impossible  Specimens. — Some  birds  have  a  type  of  feather- 
ing that  does  not  improve  by  washing.  Anyone  who  has 
washed  many  birds  can  detect  this  at  a  glance,  as  a  thinness 
of  the  fabric  of  the  feather,  as  we  express  it.  This  style  of 
feathering  seems  to  go  to  pieces  during  the  washing  and  dry- 


PLYMOUTH  ROOK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  377 

ing  process,  shrivel  up  and  finally  presents  an  unsatisfactory 
appearance.  So  it  is  always  well  to  select,  train  and  wash  a 
few  more  birds  than  you  actually  intend  to  show.  This  pre- 
caution will  save  you  disappointment,  should  anything  go 
wrong  with  any  of  the  birds  up  to  the  moment  that  judging 
actually  begins. 

One  of  the  objections  to  washing  birds  for  exhibition  is 
that  the  same  birds  can  seldom  be  shown  more  than  twice 
during  a  single  season;  and  sometimes  but  once,  if  you  want 
to  get  the  very  best  results.  The  reason  for  this  is  that  wash- 
ing and  drying  takes  a  good  deal  of  the  natural  oil  out  of  the 
feathers,  which  causes  them  to  become  brittle  and  they  will 
begin  to  break  up,  and  eventually  to  lose  the  natural  sheen  on 
the  feathers  which  makes  them  look  so  attractive.  However, 
any  bird  that  is  to  be  used  for  breeding  should  not  be  shown 
more  than  once ;  because,  in  conditioning,  washing,  and  show- 
ing the  bird,  getting  him  home  and  rested,  etc.,  and  ready  to  go 
into  the  breeding  pen,  will  occupy  three  weeks  or  a  month. 
During  this  time  the  bird  has  been  inside  in  a  warm  tempera- 
ture, and  it  is  something  of  a  shock  to  his  system  to  go  back  in- 
to a  breeding  pen  in  what  may  possibly  be  zero  weather.  Still 
a  strong,  vital  bird  will  generally  stand  this  for  one  trip ;  but, 
when  you  keep  repeating  this  for  show  after  show,  the  bird 
becomes  softened  and  loses  his  natural  resistance  to  cold,  with 
the  result  that  he  contracts  a  cold  or  in  some  way  gets  out  of 
condition.  So,  for  this  more  vital  reason,  birds  that  are  valu- 
able as  breeders  really  should  be  shown  but  once  in  a  season. 
It  is  hard  and  cruel  to  keep  a  bird  on  the  jump  from  one  show 
to  another  from  August  until  late  in  February.  This  practice 
is  generally  the  result  of  greed  or  ignorance.  However,  such 
a  practice  brings  its  own  penalty ;  because,  after  such  treat- 
ment, your  fine  bird  will  not  breed  you  the  sound,  vigorous 
stock  that  he  otherwise  would. 

To  Remove  Stains. — If  you  should  find  a  grease  spot  on 
one  of  your  birds  that  did  not  come  out  in  the  wash,  you  can 
remove  it  by  using  gasoline ;  but  you  must  exercise  great  care 
in  doing  this.  Take  the  bird  into  the  open  air,  and  do  not  use 
more  than  is  necessary.  It  is  possible  that  you  might  just  pick 
some  birds  ofif  inside. 

Feeding. — After  the  birds  are  dry,  feed  nothing  but  hard 
corn  until  after  they  are  judged.  Be  sure  that  you  have  suit- 
able shipping  coops. 


378  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

Shipping. — A  good  many  birds  lose  their  chance  of  winning 
by  poor  shipping  in  transit  to  the  shows.  Inspect  the  coops 
to  see  that  they  are  high  enough  that  the  bird  can  easily  stand 
upright ;  also  see  that  no  sharp  nail  points  are  exposed  on  the 
inside,  which  may  tear  the  bird's  comb  or  otherwise  damage 
him. 

For  the  ordinary  show  where  competition  is  not  very  strong, 
perhaps  all  this  preparation  is  not  absolutely  necessary.  It 
is  possible  that  you  might  just  pick  some  birds  off  the  roost 
the  night  before,  and  get  away  with  it ;  but  it  is  a  good  plan 
to  always  show  your  birds  in  their  best  possible  condition. 
The  more  earnest  effort  you  put  into  the  poultry  business, 
the  better  your  standing  will  be  with  the  poultry  fraternity, 
and  the  more  pleasure  and  ultimate  profit  you  will  get  out  of  it. 
(M.  L.  C.) 


CHAPTER  III. 

SHIPPING  TO  SHOWS. 

Considerable  attention  should  be  given  this,  one  of  the 
necessary  steps  in  showing  fowls.  Though  it  is  but  a  single 
step  and  a  short  one  compared  with  the  number  and  length 
of  time  it  takes  to  grow  and  to  condition  exhibition  fowls, 
yet  it  is  fully  as  important  as  any  of  the  previous  or  sub- 
sequent steps  in  the  process  because  of  the  dangers  involved, 
due  to  unusual,  strange  conditions,  such  as  confinement,  re- 
striction of  feed  and  water,  and  the  inadaptability  of  some 
fowls  to  such  changes  in  the  routine  of  life,  to  exposure  to 
weather  conditions,  extreme  in  either  heat  or  cold,  to  sudden 
changes  varying  from  one  extreme  to  the  other,  as  when  taken 
from  a  heated  car  in  cold  weather  in  which  they  have  perhaps 
been  packed  all  too  closely  together,  and  transferred  in  un- 
protected trucks  to  other  transfer  points  or  to  the  show  room. 

Shipments  Dependent  Upon  Three  Conditions. — From  the 
foregoing  it  is  apparent  that  three  conditions  are  highly  de- 
sirable. First,  that  the  bird  be  fortified  to  withstand  these 
changes  of  temperature  and  weather.  The  best  means  of 
fortification  against  these  is  to  select  naturally  rugged  birds 
that  are  in  excellent  health  and  conditioned  to  withstand 
these  changes.  This  is,  however,  the  subject  of  another 
chapter. 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  379 

Second,  that  the  style  of  shipping  coop  provided  furnishes 
as  much  protection  as  possible  against  these  changes  and  at 
the  same  time  allows  a  sufficient  supply  of  pure  air  to  insure 
the  good  health  and  condition  of  the  occupant  or  occupants. 
Because  the  shipping  coop  does  not  allow  always  for  a  suffi- 
cient supply  of  fresh  air,  the  danger  of  overheating,  particu- 
larly in  express  cars,  is  also  incurred. 

Construction  of  Shipping  Coops. — The  proper  construction 
of  a  suitable  shipping  coop  involves  all  these  problems,  also 
the  question  of  how  much  the  occupant  may  be  confined  with- 
out injury  of  either  health  or  condition. 

Large  and  Small  Coops. — Obviously  when  the  good  ap- 
pearance of  the  bird  counts  for  so  much  it  will  not  do  to  take 
the  slightest  chance  of  injury  even  if  that  injury  merely  con- 
sists of  rubbing  the  plumage  or  the  breaking  of  a  single  prin- 
ciple feather.  Many  claim  that  too  large  coops  involve  more 
and  greater  injuries  in  this  latter  regard  than  smaller  ones. 
The  idea  advanced  is  that  the  bird  breaks  the  feathers  by 
turning  around  in  the  coop  and  that  when  the  coops  are  so 
narrow  as  to  prevent  it,  there  is  less  liability  to  injuries  of 
this  kind.  The  styles  of  coops  vary  widely.  One  large  poultry 
show  will  show  scores  of  designs.  Shipping  coops  are  usually 
built  of  wood  or  have  a  framework  of  wood  covered  with  cloth. 

Cloth  Covered  Coops. — Cloth  tears  so  easily  that  express 
companies  will  not  receive  cloth  covered  coops  at  single  rates 
unless  the  wooden  frame  over  which  the  cloth  is  put  is  so  con- 
structed that  it  will  hold  the  bird  even  if  the  cloth  is  not  put  in 
place.  Cloth  covered  coops,  when  the  frame  is  constructed  in 
accordance  with  these  regulations,  are  very  satisfactory  except 
in  extremely  cold  weather.  They  ofifer  the  advantage  of  good 
ventilation  at  all  times  and,  it  must  be  admitted,  far  too  much 
when  the  weather  is  severe. 

Wooden  Coops. — Wooden  coops  are  without  question  the 
most  often  used  and  the  safest  from  many  points  of  view.  They 
are  certainly  stronger  and  less  liable  to  be  broken  and  it  is  for 
this  reason  that  they  are  most  often  used.  Ventilation  is  the 
difficult  problem  with  wooden  coops.  If  they  are  open  in  con- 
struction the  birds  take  cold  when  left  out  of  doors  or  in  a 
draft  for  any  length  of  time.  If  they  are  closed  the  birds  some- 
times smother  when  large  numbers  are  shipped,  as  they  often 
are  when  poultry  shows  are  being  held.  This,  of  course,  re- 
sults from  stacking  a  number  of  coops  together.  The  coops  in 
the  center  of  the  stack   or  against  the  wall   receive  an   insuf- 


380  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

ficient  supply  of  air  or  become  overheated.  There  is  no  known 
way  to  prevent  this  occurrence  and  at  the  same  time  properly 
protect  the  birds  against  the  weather,  unless  the  handlers  or 
messengers  of  the  express  company  will  use  reasonable  pre- 
cautions against  overlarge  stacks  and  overheated  cars. 

Material  in  Wooden  Coops. — Wooden  coops,  as  a  usual 
thing,  are  made  with  solid  sides  and  bottom  and  are  left  as 
open  on  the  top  as  possible  and  still  retain  the  bird  or  birds. 
The  sides  are  usually  made  of  three-eighths  inch  matched  lum- 
ber and  the  floor  of  one-half  inch,  or  sometimes  thicker  boards. 
A  sufficient  number  of  narrow  strips  cover  the  tops  to  keep  the 
birds  inside. 

Dimension  of  Coops. — Some  shippers  make  the  top  higher 
at  the  center  than  on  the  sides  to  prevent  setting  other  boxes 
or  packages  which  interfere  with  ventilation  on  top.  Raised 
strips,  one  at  each  end,  an  inch  or  more  thick,  are  sometimes 
used  to  prevent  too  close  packing.  This  allows  some  venti- 
lation, enough  in  ordinary  cases.  Open  spaces  at  the  top,  and 
on  the  two  sides,  two  inches  or  a  little  more  in  width  are 
sometimes  left  and  answer  the  purpose  fairly  well. 

Elaborate  coops  of  much  heavier  construction  with  hinged 
or  sliding  tops  are  often  used.  These  afiford,  of  course,  rather 
more  protection,  but  because  they  are  much  heavier,  their  use 
increases  the  cost  of  transportation  very  much. 

Shipping  White  Birds. — Birds  of  white  or  light  colored 
plumage  are  usually  shipped  in  coops  that  are  so  constructed 
as  to  protect  them  from  dust  and  dirt.  This  result  can  be  toler- 
ably well  accomplished  by  taking  cheesecloth  or  a  similar 
fabric  to  the  top  of  the  coop,  or  by  using  closed  tops  and  pro- 
viding more  ventilation  through  the  sides.  Large  openings 
even  on  the  side  should  be  covered  with  burlap,  cheesecloth,  or 
some  material  that  will  prevent  dangerous  drafts  and  also,  in  a 
measure,  keep  out  the  dirt  and  dust. 

While  there  is  some  danger  of  the  plumage  becoming  soiled 
while  in  transit,  by  the  dust  and  dirt  that  is  in  the  air,  there  is 
also  some  liability  from  the  coop  itself,  if  it  has  been  in  use 
before.  Consequently,  all  coops  should  be  thoroughly  cleaned 
before  receiving  the  birds.  This  is  a  good  plan  to  follow 
whether  shipping  to  a  show  or  customer. 

The  greatest  danger  to  plumage  aside  from  that  of  breaking- 
feathers  is  that  it  will  be  soiled  by  the  droppings.  To  prevent 
this  possibility  as  effectually  as  possible  a  bed  of  some  ab- 
sorbent must  be  provided.     Sawdust  or  planer  shavings  answer 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  381 

the  purpose  as  well  as  any  material  yet  used,  unless  it  is  a  com- 
bination of  the  same  and  long  straw,  with  the  straw  on  top. 
Clean,  hand-threshed,  rye  straw  is  best  suited  to  this  purpose. 
While  it  is  clean  and  unbroken,  the  droppings  have  a  tendency 
to  fall  through  onto  the  sawdust  or  shavings  which  adhere  to 
them,  absorbing  the  moisture  contained  in  them,  or  covering 
them  with  a  thin  coating  of  whichever  bedding  material  is 
used ;  being  protected  in  this  way  and  by  the  straw  above,  the 
plumage  is  kept  clean.  Unless  shipments  are  very  long,  birds 
shipped  in  coops  fitted  up  in  this  manner  will  arrive  in  excel- 
lent condition  of  plumage,  provided,  of  course,  that  they  started 
in  that  condition. 

Feeding  During  the  Journey. — When  the  journey  is  of  such 
length  that  the  fowls  must  be  confined  to  their  coops  for  more 
than  two  or  three  hours,  food  should  be  supplied.  This  should 
consist  largely  of  the  small  grains,  but  a  supply  of  green  foods, 
which  serve  to  entertain  the  fowls  and  keep  the  digestive  tract 
in  good  order,  is  important  because  the  fowls  must  feel  their 
best  to  look  their  best.  There  is  certainly  a  chance  of  their 
crops  becoming  overfull  if  the  fowls  are  not  accustomed  to 
these  foods.  However,  they  should  have  been  previously  accus- 
tomed to  them.  The  green  foods  should  be  of  such  a  nature 
that  it  will  not  soil  the  plumage  and  in  the  case  of  white  birds, 
greens  are  usually  omitted  from  the  bill  of  fare  while  the  birds 
are  in  transit. 

Shells  and  Grit. — A  small  handful  of  oyster  shells  and  grit 
should  be  supplied.  This  is  doubly  essential  because  the 
fowls  will  in  all  probability  be  deprived  of  both  during  the 
show. 

Whether  water  is  necessary  or  not  depends  upon  the  time 
of  confinement  in  the  shipping  coop.  In  cold  weather  birds 
may  be  deprived  of  water  for  twenty-four  hours,  or  even  a 
little  longer,  without  visible  inconvenience  or  discomfort  if 
plenty  of  succulent  food  is  provided.  The  more  succulent  the 
green  food,  the  longer  the  period  during  which  water  may  be 
withheld.  Without  water  the  fowls  are  less  liable  to  be  soiled 
in  transit  and  usually  arrive  in  much  better  condition  than 
when  water  cups  are  a  part  of  the  coop  fittings.  When  it  is 
necessary  to  supply  water  in  transit,  cups  that  are  partially 
covered  or  have  a  float  should  be  used,  particularly  when  white 
birds  are  shipped.  After  the  birds  have  been  washed  and 
conditioned  for  exhibition,  shippers  of  white  birds  supply  water 
only  when  absolutely  necessary. 


382  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

As  the  birds  must  usually  return  in  the  same  coops  as 
those  in  which  they  are  shipped,  labor  and  time  may  be  saved 
by  supplying  enough  grain,  grit  and  shell  to  last  throughout 
the  return  journey. 

Arrangements  for  Shipping. — The  exhibitor  should  first  of 
all  become  acquainted  with  the  dates  of  the  exhibition,  the  first 
day  when  the  exhibition  room  will  be  open  for  birds,  and  the 
last  minute  when  they  will  be  received  for  competition.  Thr 
most  desirable  time  to  have  them  enter  the  show  room  should 
be  determined,  as  under  certain  conditions  it  is  better  to  have 
them  arrive  at  the  first  possible  moment,  while  under  different 
conditions  one  would  not  want  the  birds  to  arrive  until  the 
very  last  moment. 

Consult  the  Transportation  Agent. — The  transportation 
agent  should  then  be  consu'ted  and  the  exhibitor  should  be- 
come accjuainted  with  the  route,  the  changes  from  one  route  to 
another,  from  one  car  to  another,  and  all  other  changes  involved, 
whether  they  mean  long  delays  and  whether  the  birds  will  be 
exposed  or  kept  in  comfortable  rooms,  etc.  Sometimes  infor- 
mation along  these  lines  will  make  an  entire  change  in  th.e 
shipping  program  advisable,  as  by  so  doing  long  waits.  ]ioor 
connections,  exposure  from  weather  with  chances  of  storms, 
may  be  eliminated,  or  the  chances  of  the  same  greatly  reduced. 
The  best  facilities  in  shipping  should  always  be  sought.  Ex- 
pense should  not  be  the  first  item  considered. 

Travel  with  Your  Birds. — When  possible  to  do  so  without 
incurring  too  great  expense  or  making  too  large  sacrifices  of 
one  nature  or  another,  it  is  advisable  to  travel  not  only  by  the 
same  route  as  the  birds  do  but  by  the  same  train.  The  ad- 
vantages are  many.  A  small  gift  or  kindly  words  will  often 
keep  coops  on  a  level  that  otherwise  would  be  tilted  sharplv. 
which  is  of  obvious  advantage  in  preserving  the  good  condi- 
tion of  the  bird's  plumage  as  well  as  its  tranquility,  both  of 
which  are  essentials  when  competition  is  keen.  Express  cars 
are  very  apt  to  be  so  overcrowded  in  the  show  season,  when 
all  coops  are  going  in  one  direction,  that  some  wait;  your  coop 
need  not  and  probably  will  not  if  you  are  present  to  use  gent'e 
suasion.  Safe  and  sane  stacking  is  another  comfort  that  your 
birds  will  enjoy  if  you  travel  with  them,  and  comfort  is  neces- 
sary for  a  highly  conditioned  show  bird  if  it  is  to  remain 
highly  conditioned.  While  it  is  usually  against  the  ru'es  of 
express  companies,  the  writer  has  often  been  permitted  by 
the  messengers   to   remain   in   the   car   to   feed,   water   and    in 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  383 

some    cases    exercise    the    birds.      Such    attention    is    naturally 
beneficial  on  extended  or  prolonged  trips. 

Many  appreciable  and  obvious  benefits  accrue  if  you  are 
with  your  birds  and  watch  them  every  waking  hour.  Small 
advantages  tell  in  the  long  run  and  more  likely  than  not,  these 
small  advantages,  just  the  barely  appreciable  things,  will  turn 
the  scale  in  your  favor. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

CARE  IN  THE  SHOW  ROOM. 

The  largest  and  most  prominent  exhibitors  accompany 
their  birds  to  the  show  room  and  remain  with  them  through- 
out the  show  or  hire  a  competent  man  to  do  so.  The  smaller 
exhibitors  do  not  usually  accompany  the  birds  except  at 
their  respective  local  shows.  It  often  occurs  that  many  birds 
are  shipped  a  great  many  miles  to  important  shows  and  en- 
trusted to  the  care  of  individuals  employed  by  the  show 
management.  Very  often  these  employees  are  incompetent 
because  inexperienced  in  either  handling  or  caring  for  birds. 
Undoubtedly,  the  greatest  harm  is  done  by  the  handling  of 
assistants  that  are  inexperienced  and,  very  often,  even  un- 
instructed.  Experienced  help  is  always  hard  to  obtain  for 
temporary  positions,  and  no  exception  to  this  statement  can 
be  made  when  poultrymen  or  even  men  competent  to  handle 
show  specimens,  perhaps  only  for  a  few  brief  minutes,  are 
required.  Because  of  the  effect  upon  their  value  of  even  the 
slightest  injury,  perhaps  merely  the  breaking  of  a  single 
feather,  particularly,  if  such  is  affected  by  a  disqualifying 
clause  and  on  this  account  open  to  suspicion,  it  is  very  de- 
sirable for  an  exhibitor  to  go  with,  stay  with,  care  for  and 
come  home  with  his  birds  when  it  is  possible  for  him  to  do 
so  without  too  great  a  sacrifice  on  his  part.  Besides  the  care- 
ful handling  that  he  can  bestow,  there  are  many  precautions  to 
take  against  exposure  and  accident,  and  many  things  that  one 
can  do  to  increase  the  chances  of  winning.  That,  to  attend  to 
these  things  is  worth  while,  may  be  soon  proved  to  anyone's 
satisfaction  by  watching  closely  the  movements  of  the  suc- 
cessful and  unsuccessful  exhibitors.  The  time  of  the  former 
class  is  spent  on  their  birds ;  that  of  the  latter,  generally  in 
social  duties. 


384  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

Delivery. — Every  moment  before  judging  is  a  precious  one, 
as  there  is  much  to  be  done  and  much  may  depend  upon  what 
is  done  or  not  done.  First,  the  birds  must  be  located.  If 
they  are  scheduled  to  have  arrived  and  have  not,  the  express 
company  should  be  at  once  notified  and  pressure  applied  to 
bring  about  a  quick  delivery.  As  soon  as  they  are  delivered, 
see  that  they  are  in  a  comfortable  place.  Before  the  birds  are 
put  in  the  exhil)ition  cages,  the  cages  should  be  cleaned  and 
supplied  with  a  proper  amount  of  bedding,  water,  grain  and 
grit. 

Clean  Cages  Important. — It  is  very  important  to  rub  the 
exhibition  cages  until  free  of  all  dust,  dirt,  or  mould,  especially 
if  you  have  white  or  light  colored  birds  to  exhibit.  Other- 
wise, the  plumage  becomes  so  soiled  in  a  very  few  hours  that 
the  birds  present  a  very  poor  appearance,  compared  to  those 
who  have  been  washed  white  and  kept  clean.  Metal  cages 
especially  should  be  thoroughly  cleaned  before  white  birds 
are  put  in  them.  Old  papers  or  rags  are  suitable  cleaning 
agents,  though  clean  rags  should  be  used  in  the  last  cleaning 
operations  to  insure  its  thoroughness. 

Bedding. — The  bedding  may  be  planer  shavings,  sawdust 
or  straw,  but  the  first  two  are  most  often  used.  The  bed  or 
litter  should  be  of  sufficient  depth  to  allow  the  birds  to  stand 
comfortably  which  they  can  not  do  on  bare  boards.  From 
one-half  to  one  inch  of  shavings  or  sawdust  should  be  ample, 
but  these  must  be  renewed  from  time  to  time  for  several  reas- 
ons. First,  for  cleanliness  and  sanitation,  which  includes  elimi- 
nation of  odors,  offensive  alike  to  patrons  of  the  show  and 
to  the  birds  themselves.  The  ammonia  that  arises  from  un- 
clean litter  or  bedding  is  not  only  disagreeable  but  may  in- 
flame the  organs  of  the  bird's  nose  and  throat  and  become  the 
cause  of  more  serious  troubles.  Renewal  of  bedding,  daily,  is 
advisable. 

Drinking  Dishes. — Diseases  of  the  mouth,  nose  and  throat 
are  often  transmitted  because  of  unclean  and  non-disinfected 
drinking  dishes.  Before  using  and  before  the  birds  are  caged, 
the  drinking  dishes  should  be  washed  and  disinfected  or  thor- 
oughly scalded,  if  possible. 

Protection  Against  Drafts. — The  doors  to  the  show  room 
are  often  left  open  while  the  birds  are  being  received,  and  in 
such  a  manner  as  to  allow  strong  drafts  in  the  show  room 
itself  or  certain   parts  of  it.     In  locations  exposed  to   drafts. 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  385 

the  birds,  if  caged,  must  be  protected  by  covering  the  tops 
and  possibly  the  front  of  cages  with  paper,  or  cloth,  during 
that  time,  and  subsequently  if  need  be.  If  the  draft  is  strong 
and  the  temperature  low,  the  birds  may  be  allowed  to  eat  and 
drink  in  the  show  cage  and  returned  to  the  shipping  coop  until 
necessary  to  feed  and  water  again,  or  until  conditions  for 
caging  are  more  favorable. 

Change  in  Temperature. — Many  times,  not  as  much  heat 
is  provided  during  the  night  as  during  the  day.  In  such  cases 
it  is  well  to  cover  the  tops  of  the  cages  as  you  are  leaving  for 
the  night.  This  not  only  keeps  the  birds  warmer  but  darkens 
the  cages  besides,  and  the  birds  rest  better.  This  plan  may 
be  carried  farther  and  the  front  of  the  cage  covered  if  the 
temperature  is  so  low  that  it  seems  advisable.  With  birds  of 
nervous  temperament  this  scheme  assists  materially  in  keeping 
them  in  good  condition. 

Feeds  and  Feeding. — In  a  large  show  individual  attention 
cannot  be  expected  of  the  regular  show  attendants,  and  in  small 
shows  they  are  not  likely  to  accord  it.  For  this  reason  owners 
or  caretakers  should  take  to  themselves  the  duties  of  feeding 
as  well  as  other  cares.  First,  because  the  ordinary  feeds  of  the 
show  room  lack  variety.  Second,  it  is  by  no  means  certain 
that  feeds  will  be  given  at  the  proper  time.  Third,  feeds  are 
not  always  of  a  suitable  nature,  and  fourth,  not  given  in  the 
right  amounts. 

Variety  is  Necessary. — Show  room  feeding  often  consists  of 
giving  a  supply  of  whole  or  mixed  grains,  usually  cracked  or 
whole  corn,  wheat  or  oats,  perhaps  a  mixture  of  all  these  or  of 
any  two,  twice  a  day.  Very  often  this  is  the  entire  bill  of 
fare.  There  is,  consequently,  a  lack  of  meat,  greens,  grit,  shell 
and  mash,  all  of  which  are  necessities  for  a  continuance  of 
normal  di^gestion.  With  a  restricted  ration,  the  digestive  or- 
gans soon  become  abnormal,  a  condition  that  may  soon  severely 
affect  the  good  appearance  of  the  specimen. 

Meat  and  Greens  in  the  Show  Room. — As  a  rule  feeding  in 
the  show  room  should  not  differ  materially  from  feeding  at 
home.  If  the  birds  have  been  accustomed  to  greens  and  meat 
at  home,  greens  and  meat  should  be  fed  in  the  show  room, 
tliough  not  necessarily  in  the  same  form.  Substitutes  of  the 
same  general  nature  will  be  relished  for  the  sake  of  variety. 
Xo  fowl  will  object  to  a  little  Hamburg  steak  or  fresh  meat 
in  preference  to  beef  scrap,  or  to  cabbage  as  a  substitute  for 
a'falfa  or  clover.     There  may  be  a  slight  objection  to  making 


386  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

such  substitutions  on  account  of  expense  and  because  the 
fowls  may  continue  to  demand  such  palatable  foods,  once  they 
have  acquired  a  taste  for  them,  but  if  they  are  weaned  gradu- 
ally, no  harm  will  result.  Lack  of  meat  and  greens  often  re- 
sults in  feather-eating  when  birds  are  shown  together  as  in  the 
breeding  pen.  It  is  a  wise  precaution  to  hang  a  part  of  a  cab- 
bage or  a  bunch  of  lettuce  in  the  top  of  the  cage  which  con- 
tains a  breeding  pen,  of  the  lighter  breeds  particularly,  to 
prevent  this  trouble,  and  if  this  is  not  efficacious,  hang  up  also 
a  small  piece  of  fresh  meat.  The  more  busy  fowls  are  kept, 
the  less  feather  picking  is  practiced. 

Grit  and  Shell. — Grit  and  shell  may  not  be  absolutely  nec- 
essary during  a  short  show,  but  a  small  supply  is  often  appre- 
ciated by  the  fowls  and  serves  a  good  and  certainly  not  a 
harmful  purpose. 

Overfeeding  and  Underfeeding. — ( )verfeeding  is  more  like- 
ly than  not  to  be  practiced  by  the  novice  or  by  the  average 
inexperienced  attendant  unless  he  neglects  to  feed  at  all,  when 
he  practices  underfeeding.  Birds  are  sometimes  underfed,  not 
for  lack  of  feed,  but  because  the  hall  or  the  coop  is  so  dark  that 
they  cannot  see  to  eat.  In  such  cases  they  must  be  moved  to 
the  light  and  fed  regularly,  or  perhaps  given  a  grain,  the  physi- 
cal nature  of  which  makes  it  more  visible  than  that  which 
they  have  been  fed.  Sometimes,  in  small  shows  so  many  birds 
are  confined  in  one  cage  that  it  is  impossible  for  them  to  eat. 
This  is  false  economy  as  the  birds  lose  rapidly  in  both  weight 
and  condition. 

Too  Intensive  Caging.— There  are,  also,  other  disadvant- 
ages in  connection  with  too  intensive  caging.  No  bird  shows 
to  advantage  when  caged  with  others,  even  if  only  one  other, 
except  in  case  of  mated  pairs  and  pens  in  correspondingly  large 
cages,  and  the  more  they  are  caged  together,  the  more  in- 
ferior they  appear.  To  properly  appreciate  a  bird,  a  spectator 
must  see  the  whole  of  it  at  a  glance,  not  a  portion.  When 
caged  with  others  and,  as  is  often  the  case  as  closely  as 
though  being  sent  to  market,  the  best  bird  conceivable  fails  to 
impress  either  the  onlookers  or  the  judge.  Specimens  of  the 
finest  quality  will  fail  to  win  for  you  under  those  conditions. 
Consequently,  we  may  conclude  that  of  all  the  economies  prac- 
ticed in  the  show  room  that  of  caging  closely  is  the  most  fool- 
ish. If  prizes  are  worth  anything  they  are  certainly  worth  the 
coop  fee  which  is  usually  about  the  traditional  two-bits. 

The  specimen  is  supposed  to  have  been  "conditioned"  at 
home.     This  term,  as  pointed  out,  refers  to  the  condition,  fit- 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  l^TANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  387 

ness  or  good  order  of  the  plumage  and  to  general  health  and 
state  of  flesh.  Little  or  nothing  can  be  done  in  the  short  time 
that  the  bird  is  in  the  show  room  to  materially  affect  any  of 
these  conditions.  The  object  of  the  various  measures  that 
have  been  or  may  be  taken  while  the  bird  is  within  the  exhibi- 
tion hall  is  to  maintain  the  favorable  aspects  brought  about 
before  arrival. 

There  remains,  after  the  birds  are  properly  caged  and 
fed,  only  a  few  duties  that  may  affect  the  candidate's  chances 
for  honors.  These  are  generally  termed  the  finishing  touches, 
and  consist  of  cleaning  the  head  and  adjuncts  and  the  shanks 
and  toes.  The  latter  especially  should  have  been  attended  to 
at  home  as  part  of  the  process  of  conditioning.  If  not,  how- 
ever, or  if  either  shanks  or  toes  have  become  soiled  in  the 
meanwhile,  they  should  be  cleaned  and  afterwards  repolished 
if  necessary.  The  head  and  adjuncts  may  be  redressed  to  ad- 
vantage as  described  in  the  chapter  on  conditioning  for  show 
room. 

The  exhibitor  should,  of  course,  be  at  all  times  on  the  look- 
out for  false,  broken,  or  ragged  feathers.  By  general  custom 
the  removal  of  these  is  permissible. 

After  the  judging,  exhibitors  are  inclined  to  relax  in  their 
efforts  to  keep  their  birds  at  their  best.  To  a  certain  extent 
this  is  good  policy.  Birds,  no  matter  how  well  accustomed  to 
being  handled  and  pampered,  will  get  tired  of  too  much  atten- 
tion and  they,  as  well  as  the  exhibitors,  need  relaxation.  Re- 
laxation, however,  should  not  be  carried  to  the  extent  of  actual 
neglect  in  the  case  of  the  birds.  The  regularity  and  variety  of 
feeding  operations  should  be  maintained  from  start  to  finish. 
Nothing  whatever  should  be  allowed  to  interfere  with  these 
rules,  for  neglect  in  these  particulars,  even  for  a  day,  may 
affect  the  bird  more  seriously  later;  and  at  no  time  should  the 
exhibitor,  as  a  breeder,  lose  sight  of  the  fact  that  his  best 
birds  in  the  show  room  are  his  best  birds  at  home,  as  a  rule. 
The  value  of  his  flock  next  season  will  depend  very  largely  on 
what  these  birds  which  he  has  in  the  show  room  this  season 
will  produce.  What  they  produce  depends,  not  alone,  on 
their  quality  but  on  their  health  and  vigor  which  is  very  easily 
affected,  adversely,  by  neglect  at  any  time  and  at  any  place, 
at  home,  enroute  to  the  show,  on  the  return,  and  again  at 
home.  Care  that  is  well  calculated  to  meet  these  varying  con- 
ditions and  keep  the  birds  at  their  best,  physically,  is  one  of  the 
many  essentials  of  success  in  the  business  of  producing  "the 
Best"  in  Standard  Bred  Poultry. 


ass  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASIStOCIATrON 

CHAPTER  V. 

RETURNING   FROM   THE   SHOW. 

Birds  that  are  returning  from  exhibitions  are  always 
shipped  by  the  shortest  and  most  direct  routes  and  always 
by  express,  except  shipments  that  are  local  or  so  nearly  local 
that  they  may  be  taken  by  the  exhibitor's  own  conveyance  or 
one  that  he  has  hired.  Freight  shipments  are  too  slow  and 
unreliable  even  for  the  return  journey  when,  though  the  exact 
time  prehaps  of  arrival  is  not  important,  the  duration  of  the 
journey  must  not  be  of  such  length  that  it  is  wearisome  to  the 
birds  being  shipped  and  has,  consequently,  a  detrimental  influ- 
ence on  their  health. 

Low  Return  Rate. — Generally,  a  lower  rate  is  secured  by 
allowing  the  same  express  company  that  transported  your 
birds  to  a  show,  to  handle  the  recurn  shipment.  Usuallv,  two- 
thirds  or  three-quarters  of  one  rate  is  saved  thereby,  if  fully 
prepaid  when  the  shipment  leaves  the  home  office. 

A  Change  in  Temperatures. — As  to  preparing  the  birds  to 
withstand  the  return  journey,  little  that  has  not  been  may  be 
done  now.  It  should  be  remembered,  however,  that  the  birds 
have  been  in  a  room  that  ordinarily  has  been  several  degrees 
warmer  than  a  poultry  house  usually  is,  at  this  season  of  the 
year,  and,  therefore,  the  birds  may  be  a  little  more  sensitive  to 
weather  conditions  than  when  they  started  on  the  trip  to  the 
show ;  consequently,  all  the  protection  that  was  provided  for 
the  first  trip  should  be  used  for  the  return.  Usually,  the  birds 
are  shipped  out  of  the  show  room  in  the  same  coop  in  which 
they  entered  it,  and  the  protection  would  be  identical  for  both 
trips. 

Condition  of  Coops. — The  coops  should,  however,  be  in- 
spected to  discover  any  break  that  may  have  been  incidental 
to  the  journey,  and  if  the  same  is  so  located  as  to  cause  drafts 
or  of  such  a  nature  as  to  afford  a  possible  chance  of  injury  to 
the  fowl,  it  should  be  repaired  securely  before  the  birds  are 
cooped.  The  shipper  should  see  that  there  is  ample  bedding;  if 
it  is  the  same  that  was  in  the  coop  when  it  started  from  home, 
it  should  be  ascertained  to  be  in  sanitary  condition,  and  per- 
fectly dry  above  all  things. 

Feeding  for  the  Return  Journey. — Grit,  or  shell,  or  both 
should  be  there  in  small  quantities,  and  wholesome  grains  in  a 
sufficient  quantity  for  the  needs  of  the  birds  during  the  jour- 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  389 

ney.  AH  of  the  above  could  have  been  put  in  the  coop  before 
it  left  home,  unless  the  journey  was  a  very  long  one.  A  lib- 
eral supply  of  succulents  must  not  be  forgotten.  Besides  their 
value  as  an  aid  to  digestion,  they  are  very  palatable  and  the 
fowls  enjoy  them.  Like  a  good  meal  on  a  diner,  they  serve  to 
"kill  time"  and  induce  the  birds  to  forget  their  confinement  and 
discomfort. 

As  in  the  case  when  shipping  to  shows  certain  advantages 
such  as  more  careful  handling,  quicker  transfers  if  transfers 
are  necessary,  better  positions  and  more  careful  stacking  in 
the  car  accrue  from  traveling  along  with  the  birds. 

Home  Delivery. — Arrangements  should  have  already  been 
made  for  the  delivery  of  the  birds  immediately  after  their 
arrival  at  the  home  express  office.  In  large  cities  deliveries  are 
sometimes  slow  on  account  of  the  distance  of  the  exhibitor's 
poultry  yards  from  the  express  receiving  station,  and  often 
many  deliveries  have  to  be  made  before  the  yards  are  reached. 
When  such  conditions  prevail  and  the  express  company's  of- 
ficals  are  obdurant  and  cannot  be  induced  to  make  a  special 
delivery,  as  they  generally  can  be,  however,  when  a  reasonably 
large  shipment  is  involved,  it  pays,  if  the  birds  are  valuable, 
to  employ  a  truck  for  the  special  purpose  of  obtaining  a  prompt 
and  direct  delivery. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

CARE  OF  THE  BIRDS  AFTER  THE  SHOW. 
Changed  Conditions. 

Though  safely  home,  not  all  the  possible  dangers  to  the 
birds  are  over  by  any  means.  While  in  the  show  room,  the 
birds  have  become  accustomed  to  comparatively  high  tempera- 
tures and,  in  all  probability,  entire  absence  of  drafts ;  and 
unaccustomed  to  cold  poultry  houses,  with  cold  floors,  an 
atmosphere  more  or  less  laden  with  moisture,  and  a  ventilation 
system  that  in  all  probability  is  subject  to  perceptible  drafts ; 
conditions  that  obviously  contrast  widely. 

Gradual  Changes. — Manifestly,  the  birds  should  not  feel 
the  full  force  of  these  changed  conditions  at  once.  But  as  a 
matter  of  fact,  if  a  little  common  sense  is  applied  to  our  meth- 
ods, and  the  changes  be  made  as  gradually  as  possible,  no  harm 


390  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

seems  to  result  therefrom,  and  the  birds  even  take  up  the  life 
of  the  pen  precisely  where  they  left  ofif.  A  few  simple  rules, 
obviously  of  good  sense  and  judgment,  are  all  that  are  neces- 
sary to  follow  in  ordinary  cases  to  insure  these  fowls  against 
sickness. 

Removing  from  the  Shipping  Coops. — It  would  certainly 
seem  to  be  unsafe  to  transfer  them  from  their  shipping  coops 
to  the  poultry  houses  during  the  night,  early  in  the  morning,  or 
late  in  the  afternoon  during  severe  weather.  It  would  be  far 
more  safe  to  select  the  middle  of  a  bright,  sunny  day,  if  such  a 
day  accommodatingly  presents  itself  within  a  reasonable  length 
of  time,  as  the  auspicious  time  to  make  the  change. 

If  the  birds  arrive  during  the  day,  they  should  be  taken 
from  the  coops  long  enough  to  get  food  and  water,  and  de- 
pending upon  conditions,  be  allowed  more  or  less  exercise.  If 
the  weather  is  mild,  or  the  poultry  house  is  comfortable,  there 
is  no  reason  why  they  should  not  remain  there,  if  contrary  con- 
ditions are  encountered,  they  should  be  returned  to  their  ship- 
ping coops  and  if  necessary  these  should  be  covered.  The 
birds  should  be,  however,  again  taken  from  the  coops  as  early 
as  appears  to  be  safe  the  next  morning  and  may  then  remain 
in  the  poultry  house  indefinitely,  unless  it  is  so  cold  that  they 
could  not  remain  there  under  ordinary  circumstances  without 
freezing,  in  which  case  they  should  be  returned  to  the  boxes, 
and  the  boxes  covered  if  necessary.  It  is  much  better  to  take 
precautions  against  disease  than  to  be  obliged  to  try  to  cure  it. 

Prevent  Diseases  of  the  Head. — The  diseases  that  are  most 
apt  to  be  contracted  in  the  show  room  and  during  shipment 
are  those  of  the  head,  including  the  nose  and  throat,  and  in- 
testinal disorders.  To  prevent  the  former,  it  is  well  to  bathe 
the  head  in  a  slightly  warm  solution  of  some  good  disinfectant, 
and  the  throat  may  be  easily  cleaned  by  swabbing  it  with  a 
flight  or  secondary  feather  after  dipping  the  feather  in  a  solu- 
tion of  hydrogen  peroxide  or  listerine  and  water,  half  and 
half.  These  treatments,  especially  if  repeated  two  or  three 
times,  often  prevent  such  diseases  as  cold,  canker,  roup  and 
chicken  pox. 

To  Prevent  Intestinal  Disorders. — Intestinal  disorders  are 
harder  to  control  but  much  benefit  may  come  from  administer- 
ing a  mild  laxative  as  soon  as  the  bird  is  back  from  the  show ; 
not  wholly  because  that  disease  may  be  warded  off,  but  be- 
cause the  general  health  of  the  bird  may  be  greatly  benefited. 
It  was  the  practice  of  a  very  successful  exhibitor,  with  whom 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  391 

the  writer  was  long  ago  acquainted,  to  give  each  bird  on  its 
return  from  a  show  a  small  cube  of  beef  or  ham  fat,  dipped 
lightly  in  red  pepper.  This  seems  so  simple  as  to  be  folly,  yet 
we  readily  can  see  that  the  fat  was,  because  of  its  oily  nature, 
warming  and  laxative,  while  the  pepper  is  known  to  be  a  stim- 
ulant to  digestive  action. 

The  Use  of  Condiments  and  Laxatives. — Another  equally 
successful  exhibitor  and  breeder  who  was  most  skillful  in  the 
care  of  chickens,  mixed  equal  parts  of  ginger,  charcoal,  flowers 
of  sulphur,  and  powdered  charcoal  together,  added  enough 
melted  lard  or  flour  and  water  to  hold  the  ingredients  together, 
and  gave  each  bird  a  pill  about  the  size  of  a  large  pea.  We 
can  understand  that  this  is  mildly  laxative  and  stimulating  to 
digestive  action.  These  remedies  are  mentioned  because  of 
their  simple,  harmless  character,  and  because  they  are  usually 
available. 

Compel  Exercise  and  Feed  Lightly. — Aside  from  these 
simple  precautions,  it  is  necessary  to  mention  but  one  or  two 
more,  and  these  are  so  important,  so  obvious  and  so  well  known 
that  it  is  not  necessary  to  go  into  very  much  detail.  It  is  known 
by  every  exhibitor  that  birds,  partly  because  they  are  overfed 
and  underexercised.  become  lazy  if  not  dyspeptic  during  the 
time  they  are  so  closely  confined.  It  is  therefore  necessary  to 
feed  lightly  for  a  few  days  and  in  such  a  manner  that  the  birds 
must  exercise.  This  is  easily  accomplished  by  supplying  the 
same  light,  yet  deep  litter  that  is  so  necessary  to  get  birds  in 
show  condition,  or  to  keep  hens  laying  briskly  in  the  winter 
months. 

Notwithstanding  the  usual  demands  of  the  show  room  and 
the  incidentals  connected  therewith  upon  the  physical  and 
mental  systems  of  fowls  entirely  unprovided  for  by  nature  in 
the  original  parents,  the  difficulties  of  conditioning  and  show- 
ing fowls  seems  very  small  and  trivial  to  anyone  who  has  even 
a  very  few  years  of  experience  in  this  fascinating  sport. 


PART  FIVE 


PRACTICAL  POULTRY  KEEPING 


SECTION  I.  THE  MATURE  FLOCK. 

Chapter  I.  HOW  TO  START. 

Chapter  II.  A  BACK  YARD  FLOCK. 

Chapter  IIL  HOUSING  THE  FLOCK. 

Chapter  IV.  SANITATION. 

Chapter  V.  FEEDING   THE   BREEDING   HENS. 

Chapter  VI.  THE   HEALTH    OF   THE    BREEDING 
FLOCK  IN  CONFINEMENT. 


SECTION  II.  THE  YOUNG  STOCK. 

Chapter  L  HATCHING  AND  BROODING. 

Chapter  II.  CARE  OF  THE  GROWING  STOCK. 

Chapter  III.  FEEDING  FOR  GROWTH. 


SECTION     I  . 

THE  MATURE  FLOCK 

CHAPTER  1. 

HOW  TO  START. 

A  WELL  KNOWN  American  humorist  once  said,  "The 
way  to  start  is  to  begin,"  and  that  appHes  as  well  to 
poultry  keeping  as  to  any  other  enterprise.  There  is 
no  rule  or  set  of  rules  for  starting  in  this  business  which,  if 
followed,  will  guarantee  success,  or  which,  if  neglected,  is  sure 
to  be  followed  by  failure.  How  well  one  applies  himself  to 
the  details  of  the  work  and  how  well  he  understands  the  busi- 
ness is  far  more  important  and  necessary  to  his  success  than 
that  he  start  at  any  particular  time  or  according  to  any  particu- 
lar plan  or  system. 

Selecting  the  Breed. — Undoubtedly  the  first  thing  to  do  is 
to  decide  on  a  variety  which  has  a  special  appeal  to  the  person 
about  to  take  up  the  work  of  breeding  standard-bred  fowls. 
If  he  decides  to  breed  Plymouth  Rocks,  he  has  his  choice  of 
all  the  varieties  of  that  breed  which  are  described  in  this  vol- 
ume and  all  of  these  will  give  perfect  satisfaction  if  properly 
bred,  housed  and  cared  for.  As  all  varieties  are  required  to 
have  the  same  shape,  the  matter  of  choice  is  merely  one  of 
color.  As  it  is  a  generally  accepted  fact  that  a  breeder  will  do 
best  with  the  kind  he  likes  best,  it  is  by  all  means  advisable  to 
select  the  variety  of  Plymouth  Rocks  which  appeals  most  to 
him  on  account  of  its  plumage,  bearing  in  mind  that  in  selling 
eggs  and  stock  for  breeding  purposes,  and  stock  for  exhibition, 
there  is  more  demand  for  the  popular  varieties  than  those  that 
are  not  so  popular. 

While  many  contend  that  the  first  thing  to  do  is  to  build 
and  properly  equip  quarters  for  fowls  or  chicks,  it  is  true  that 
there  is  no  real  poultry  keeping  or  poultry  breeding  until  one 
possesses  the  chicks  or  fowls.  Many  a  poultry  breeder  who 
now  occupies  a  prominent  position  in  the  poultry  world  started 
by  buying  a  setting  of  eggs  at  a  time  when  he  possessed  no 
more  equipment  than  a  sitting  hen  and  a  box  in  which  to  make 

393 


394  AMERICAN  POCI/riiY  AtiSOCIATION 

a  nest.    If  the  start  is  made  by  purchasing  eggs,  the  buildings 
and  equipment  can  be  built  as  requirements  demand. 

Quality,  Health  and  Vigor. — ^When  starting  in  this  way, 
the  first  thing  to  do  is  to  select  the  breeder  from  whom  the 
eggs  are  to  be  bought.  As  distance  is  no  bar.  if  eggs  are 
packed  and  handled  properly,  the  main  point  to  be  considered 
is  the  quality  of  the  stock  that  the  breeder  can  and  will  sell. 
When  referring  to  quality,  we  mean  how  closely  the  stock 
approximates  the  requirements  of  the  American  Standard  of 
Perfection  and  described,  so  far  as  they  affect  each  variety  of 
Plymouth  Rocks,  in  this  book ;  and  also,  whether  the  same 
stock  possesses  the  health  and  vitality  which  is  so  necessary 
for  success.  These  things  are  of  equal  importance,  because 
one's  success  as  a  breeder  of  standard-bred  fowls  depends  on 
his  having  stock  good  enough  to  command  good  prices,  and  it 
also  depends  on  his  having  stock  with  the  health  and  strength 
which  will  make  it  productive,  not  only  of  good  color,  but  of 
plenty  of  eggs  and  meat.  It  should  be  particularly  noted  that 
it  is  very  difficult  to  produce  the  quality  of  stock  in  any  variety 
of  Plymouth  Rocks  which  will  sell  for  high  prices  from  any 
except  a  line,  or  family,  of  healthy  fowls. 

Buy  of  a  Specialist. — It  is  very  satisfactory  to  see  the  stock 
from  which  one  buys  eggs  if  it  is  convenient  to  do  so,  but 
almost  all  of  the  buying  of  eggs  is  done  by  mail  and  breeders 
with  reputations  to  sustain  can  be  depended  on  to  deal  justly 
with  those  who  send  to  them  for  eggs  for  hatching.  It  is 
always  best  to  buy  of  a  breeder  who  has  a  good  reputation, 
because  it  is  difficult  to  build  up  such  a  reputation  except  by 
breeding  good  stock  and  giving  good  value  when  filling  orders. 
Almost  invariably  the  specialist  is  the  best  one  to  buy  from, 
for  the  specialist  has  more  and  better  stock  of  his  breed  or 
variety  than  one  who  attempts  to  breed  or  handle  and  sell  a 
great  many  different  varieties.  This  is  not  intended  to  cast 
reflections  on  the  reputable  and  successful  breeder  who  handles 
two,  three,  or  even  half  a  dozen  varieties  and  who  has  suc- 
ceeded with  all  of  them.  Our  readers  will  understand,  how- 
ever, why  it  is  impossible  for  any  man,  or  associated  group  of 
men,  to  successfully  breed,  raise  and  sell  high  quality  stock 
of  many  different  varieties. 

Prices  of  Hatching  Eggs. — Prices  should  be  made  a  minor 
consideration.  The  main  point  is  to  get  good  eggs  from  good 
stock  and  while  a  few  dollars  more  in  the  price  of  the  eggs 
amounts  to  but  little,  the  difference  in  the  value  of  the  chickens 


PLYMOUTH  ROVK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  :i95 

hatched  will  amount  to  considerable  as  the  stock  grows  up 
and  develops,  and  is  in  turn  bred  from  to  build  up  the  flock. 
Poor  eggs,  or  even  good  eggs  from  poor  or  ordinary  stock, 
are  expensive  at  any  price,  because  they  make  it  impossible  for 
the  breeder  to  progress  as  he  must,  in  order  to  be  successful. 
In  many  cases,  buying  eggs  proves  a  very  inexpensive  method 
of  getting  some  of  the  finest  chicks.  It  frequently  happens 
that  a  setting  of  eggs  sold  for  five,  ten,  or  perhaps,  in  extreme 
cases,  twenty-five  dollars  produces  a  single  bird  which  is  worth 
many  times  the  original  cost  of  the  eggs.  The  writer  recalls 
cases  in  which  settings  of  purchased  eggs  produced  first  prize 
winners  at  several  fairly  prominent  poultry  shows. 

Breeding  Stock. — To  start  with,  the  purchase  of  breeding 
stock  requires  more  capital  if  the  stock  is  first  class,  but  on 
the  other  hand  a  good  trio  or  pen  will  supply  several  settings 
of  eggs.  There  is,  moreover,  a  certain  satisfaction  in  possess- 
ing the  fowls  and  considerable  pleasure  in  feeding  and  caring 
for  them.  When  adopting  this  method  of  getting  a  start,  it  is 
best  to  buy  mature  specimens,  or  at  least  those  which  are 
nearly  mature,  in  the  case  of  young  stock.  Quarters  and  equip- 
ment must  be  provided  before  the  fowls  arrive.  It  is  just  as 
important  to  select  the  variety  which  appeals  most  to  the 
purchaser  when  buying  stock  as  when  buying  eggs,  and  it  is 
also  just  as  important  to  buy  from  a  breeder  who  has  a  good 
reputation  for  the  quality  of  his  stock  and  whose  business  has 
developed  to  the  point  where  one  is  justified  in  believing  that 
it  is  founded  on  honesty  in  his  dealings.  While  this  may  not 
be  as  important  when  the  experienced  poultry  breeder  is  pur- 
chasing, it  is  something  that  the  beginner  should  not  over- 
look. 

Here  again,  the  quality  of  the  stock  individually  and  the 
ability  of  the  family,  or  line,  from  which  it  comes  to  repro- 
duce its  good  qualities  of  shape  and  color  as  well  as  its  strength 
and  vitality,  are  important  matters  to  consider.  Inasmuch  as 
the  success  of  a  reputable  breeder  depends  considerably  on 
his  ability  to  build  up  a  strain,  the  individuals  of  which  will 
breed  true  to  character,  we  find  here  another  reason  for  patron- 
izing a  man  with  an  established  reputation.  xA.s  such  a  breeder 
knows  the  parentage  of  the  members  of  his  flock,  and  also  how 
to  mate  each  individual  member  for  the  best  results,  a  faculty 
which  is  founded  on  his  knowledge  of  the  breeding  tenden- 
cies of  his  line,  it  is  always  best  to  have  the  breeder  mate  the 
fowls  which  the  novice  purchases.     If  this  is  done,  the   inex- 


396  AMERICAN  POULTRY  AiiSOGIATION 

perienced  beginner  is  relieved  of  one  of  the  most  trying  respon- 
sibilities of  his  first  season ;  and  if  he  takes  care  of  his  breeders 
properly  and  rears  the  chicks  with  such  good  judgment  that 
they  grow  and  develop  well,  he  may  be  sure  of  good  results 
the  first  season.  Whether  it  is  best  to  buy  young  stock,  if  it 
is  mature  enough  to  show  its  quality,  or  old  stock,  or  a  part 
of  each,  is  less  important  than  whether  one  gets  the  right 
quality.  Pens  made  up  of  well  matured  stock  hatched  the 
previous  spring  are  often  as  healthy,  as  strong,  and  produce 
as  good  results  as  old  birds.  Yet  such  birds  are,  of  course, 
untried  and  just  what  they  will  produce  can  not  be  foretold, 
whereas  the  older  birds  can  sometimes  be  bought  with  an 
exact  knowledge  of  what  they  produced  the  previous  season 
and  what  they  may  be  expected  to  produce  in  the  season  to 
come.  While  it  is  sometimes  advised  and  occasionally  advis- 
able to  mate  cocks  with  pullets  and  cockerels  with  hens,  there 
is  no  well  defined  rule  which  must  be  followed  calling  for  such 
matings,  and  no  preponderant  proof  that  such  matings  are 
best. 

If  only  a  certain  amount  of  money  is  to  be  spent,  it  is 
better  to  buy  a  few  good  birds  than  many  poor  ones,  or  even 
an  ordinary  number  of  birds  of  mediocre  quality.  It  should  be 
remembered  that  the  stock  bought  at  the  beginning  is  to  be 
the  foundation  of  the  flock,  and  the  better  the  quality  of  the 
foundation  stock,  the  faster  the  value  of  the  flock  will  increase 
as  its  numbers  become  greater.  It  may  also  be  remembered 
safely,  when  Plymouth  Rocks  are  being  considered,  that  beauty 
and  utility  may  be  found  in  the  same  birds.  There  is  no  rea- 
son why  any  variety  of  Plymouth  Rocks  can  not  be  doubly 
valuable  because  it  meets  the  requirements  of  the  Standard  of 
Perfection  in  shape  and  color,  and  at  the  same  time  produces 
eggs  in  goodly  numbers  and  meat  in  satisfactory  quantity  and 
quality ;  in  fact,  there  is  every  reason  why  these  qualities  should 
be  found  in  the  same  specimens. 

When  to  Start.-  -When  the  start  is  made  with  eggs,  it  must 
be  done  in  the  spring  or  early  summer,  that  is,  in  March,  April, 
May  or  the  first  part  of  June.  Much  depends  on  the  use  the 
beginner  intends  to  make  of  the  chicks  that  are  to  be  hatched. 
If  Plymouth  Rocks  are  wanted  for  the  early  fall  shows,  they 
should  be  hatched  in  March  or  the  first  half  of  April ;  if  to  be 
shown  at  the  winter  shows,  May  is  early  enough  to  get  them 
out,  and  at  the  late  winter  shows,  those  hatched  in  the  first 
fifteen  days  in  June  are  frequently  among  the  winners.     It  is 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  f^TANDARD  AND  BREbD  BOOK  397 

a  fact  that  the  best  results  are  usually  obtained  when  the  eggs 
are  bought  after  the  breeding  stock  has  had  a  chance  to  get 
outdoors  and  exercise  in  the  open  air,  because  chicks  from 
such  eggs  come  out  at  the  time  Nature  intended  they  should 
and  all  Nature  is  favorable  to  them.  For  this  reason,  it  is 
best  to  defer  the  purchase  of  the  eggs  which  are  to  produce 
next  season's  breeders  until  the  latter  part  of  April  or  the  first 
part  of  May  in  northern  latitudes,  and  hatch  as  soon  as  the 
grass  begins  to  get  green  in  southern  latitudes. 

The  average  beginner  buys  stock  when  his  interest  is 
highest,  that  is.  generally  during  the  show  season,  immediately 
after  the  show  season,  or  directly  preceding  the  opening  of  the 
breeding  season,  which  begins  about  March  first.  At  this 
time  of  the  year  prices  of  breeding  stock  are  generally  at  the 
highest  point  because  the  poultryman  has  been  to  the  expense 
of  keeping  it  through  the  winter  and  because  there  is  more 
demand  for  it.  There  is  an  advantage  in  buying  at  this  time 
because  the  stock  is  usually  in  good  condition  for  breeding,  if 
supplied  by  a  successful  breeder,  and  the  beginner  can  go  right 
to  work  increasing  his  flock.  Again  he  secures  his  stock  in 
time  to  hatch  chicks  early  in  the  season. 

One  of  the  best  times  to  buy  old  stock  is  in  the  summer, 
when  breeders  are  offering  lower  prices  on  the  stock  which 
they  used  the  season  before,  and  which  they  do  not  require  for 
the  season  following.  Young  stock  can  be  bought  most  rea- 
sonably in  the  fall,  at  about  the  time  when  the  breeder  must 
put  it  in  winter  quarters;  but  it  should  not  be  bought  at  this 
time  unless  it  is  sufficiently  developed  to  show  its  quality.  An 
excellent  opportunity  is  sometimes  offered  to  purchase  fowls 
from  mated  pens,  or  to  purchase  entire  pens  in  the  late  spring 
after  the  breeder  has  secured  a  certain  number  of  eggs  from 
them,  and  while  there  is  still  time  for  the  new  owner  to  raise 
a  nice  flock  of  chicks.  There  is  no  best  time  to  start  with  the 
purchase  of  stock.  That  depends  altogether  upon  conditions. 
(H.  A.  N.) 


898  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

CHAPTER  II. 

A  BACK  YARD  FLOCK. 

There  are  interesting  possibilities  connected  with  keeping 
a  breeding  pen  in  the  back  yard,  or,  if  the  back  yard  is  big 
enough,  keeping  two  breeding  pens  or  perhaps  more.  Limited 
room  is  no  bar  to  success  if  the  pouUry  keeper  does  his  part. 
The  smaller  the  area  to  be  devoted  to  a  flock  of  fowls,  the 
more  care  that  flock  needs,  for  the  things  that  the  fowls 
could  do  for  themselves  if  they  had  a  wide  range  must  be 
done  for  them  by  the  owner  when  they  are  confined  within 
narrow  limits.  Naturally,  none  but  standard-bred  flocks 
should  be  kept,  for  these  not  only  can  be  made  profitable 
for  eggs  and  meat,  but  there  may  be  an  added  profit  from 
the  sale  of  eggs  for  hatching  and  stock  for  breeding  and  exhi- 
bition, if  the  breeder  has  the  inclination  and  ability  to  breed 
high  class  stock.  Some  of  the  winners  in  our  largest  shows 
are  from  flocks  that  are  kept  in  back  yards,  where  there  is 
room  for  only  a  small  house  and  a  small  yard.  If  it  happens 
that  an  owner  can  place  his  chicks  on  a  farm  where  they  will 
receive  good  care  and  where  they  can  have  the  advantage  of 
free  range  during  their  growth,  he  can  raise  more  chicks,  and 
in  many  cases  better  chicks,  than  if  obliged  to  do  all  the  rearing 
in  his  small  back  yard. 

Advantages — Poultry  Keeping  Brings  Health.— Back  yard 
poultry  keeping  is  not  only  capable  of  making  good  profits, 
but  it  offers  recreation  of  the  most  healthful  kind.  Many  a 
man  or  woman  has  found  improved  health  by  spending,  every 
day,  the  time  needed  to  care  for  one  of  these  small  flocks,  be- 
cause in  doing  so  that  man  or  woman  was  compelled  to  take 
outdoor  exercise. 

The  boys  and  girls  can  frequently  be  interested  in  the  back 
yard  flock  and  thereby  be  induced  to  spend  more  time  at  home 
in  a  useful  pursuit  than  they  otherwise  would.  Instances  are 
known  where  boys  and  girls  have  made  the  profit  from  a  small 
flock  the  nucleus  of  a  splendid  bank  account,  which  afforded 
them  the  means  of  obtaining  an  advanced  education  or  a  start 
in  business  life. 

Feeding. — The  back  yard  poultry  breeder  has  one  decided 
advantage.  He  has  enough  table  and  kitchen  waste  to  make  up 
perhaps  half  the  ration  for  his  flock,  which  reduces  the  cost  of 
feeding   his    fowls   and   adds   to   his   profits.      These   table   and 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  ,ST  IVO  1/?D  Ayp  BREED  BOOK 


399 


kitchen  scraps  can  be  mixed  with  a  little  corn  meal  and  bran 
and  that  part  of  one  ration,  therefore,  costs  but  little.  If  pre- 
ferred, these  scraps  can  be  fed  separately  in  a  trough,  for  a 
lunch  at  midday.  Usually,  however,  there  is  more  of  this 
material,  which  is  usually  excellent  for  the  purpose,  than  can 
be  fed  for  lunch  only.     (H.  A.  N.) 


A  Poultry  House,  after  the  Maine  Model,  at  Ihiiversity  Farm, 
St.  Paul,  Minn.  The  cut  shows  the  curtains  open  (left)  for  a  mild 
winter   day   and   closed    (right)    for   severe   winter   weather. 


400  AMERfCAX  POVT.TRY  AFISOCIATION 

CHAPTER  III. 

HOUSING   THE  FLOCK. 

Housing-  is  one  of  the  most  important  items  in  poultry 
keeping.  A  flock  that  is  not  well  housed  is  not  comfortable 
and  a  flock  that  is  not  comfortable  is  not  healthy,  profitable 
nor  satisfactory  to  care  for.  It  is  a  mistake  to  expect  the 
same  type  of  house  to  prove  satisfactory  under  all  conditions. 
Houses  that  seem  to  meet  the  requirement  when  placed  in 
sheltered  locations  fail  utterly  when  exposed  to  the  cold  winds. 
Houses  that  are  used  in  the  northern  parts  of  the  country  must 
obviously  be  more  warmly  built,  and  are.  therefore,  more  ex- 
pensive than  those  used  in  the  South  where  the  winters  are 
mild. 

Plymouth  Rocks  have  rugged  constitutions  and  do  not  re- 
quire particularly  warm  quarters,  but  they  must  be  well  pro- 
tected from  the  elements  and  at  the  same  time  a  reasonable 
provision  must  be  made  for  fresh  air  and  sunlight.  The  fact 
that  they  will  stand  extreme  temperatures,  when  healthy  and 
vigorous,  without  apparent  suffering,  is  no  contradiction  of 
the  statement  that,  if  part  of  their  energy  and  heat  is  used  to 
combat  extreme  cold,  that  same  energy  and  heat  can  not  be 
used  to  produce  eggs  or  meat.  It  is  best  to  keep  the  fowls 
comfortable. 

Open  Front  Houses. — ^What  is  known  as  the  open  front 
house,  that  is,  the  house  with  the  north,  east  and  west  sides, 
as  well  as  the  roof,  tightly  and  warmly  built  and  the  south 
side  entirely  open,  can  be  used  satisfactorily  in  warm  and  mild 
climates  and  sometimes  proves  satisfactory  in  sheltered  loca- 
tions in  all  except  the  coldest  parts  of  the  United  States  and 
Canada. 

Warm  Houses. — In  most  cases,  however,  poultry  keeping; 
in  the  northern  part  of  this  country  calls  for  houses  which 
can  be  closed  up  quite  tightly  during  severely  cold  nights,  and 
which  may  be  opened  sufficiently  to  let  in  a  plentiful  supply  of 
.fresh  air  during  the  daytime.  It  will  be  plain  to  all  that  in 
order  to  properly  protect  the  fowls  and  conserve  their  heat 
and  energy,  they  must  have  more  protection  in  cold  weather 
than  in  warm  weather,  and  that  the  protection  afforded  must 
be  at  all  times  in  proportion  to  the  severity  of  the  weather; 
that  is,  houses  must  be  quite  open  in  warm  weather,  partly 
closed  in  moderately  cold  weather,  and  almost  entirely  closed 
in  verv  cold  weather. 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  401 

The  house  must  be  constructed  in  such  a  way  that  the 
cold  can  not  penetrate  it  readily,  yet  the  sun  can  dry  it  and 
warm  the  walls  during  the  bright  days,  as  the  sun  is  the  cheap- 
est heating  and  drying  agent  that  we  have. 

Houses  for  Warm  Climates. — In  parts  of  the  country  where 
extremely  cold  weather  is  unknown  and  in  parts  even  farther 
south  where  only  moderately  cold  weather  is  experienced, 
buildings  which  are  very  simply  and  thinly  built,  open  on  one 
side  and  with  conveniences  for  letting  in  air  through  one  or 
more  of  the  other  three  sides,  may  be  constructed. 

Simple  Construction  Best. — The  poultry  keeper  who  has 
at  his  disposal  the  rear  of  a  small  city  lot,  or  the  village  poul- 
tryman  who  has  a  little  larger  space,  will  find  the  simplest 
house  the  best  in  most  cases,  and  also  the  least  expensive  to 
construct.  Of  all  buildings,  the  shed  roof  style,  with  the 
front  about  seven  or  eight  feet  high  and  the  back  about  five 
to  six  feet  high,  is  the  cheapest  to  build  and  the  one  most 
commonly  used.  It  can  be  built  any  width  up  to  sixteen  feet 
and  any  length  desired.  It  should  face  south  and  have  one 
full  size  upper  and  lower  sash  window,  hung  preferably  on 
weights  and  pulleys,  like  the  windows  in  a  dwellmg,  for  every 
eight  feet  in  length,  if  it  is  more  than  ten  feet  wide,  or  one 
window  for  each  twelve  feet  in  length,  if  it  is  less  than  ten 
feet  wide.  A  house  less  than  twelve  feet  wide  is  more  expen- 
sive to  build,  in  proportion  to  its  capacity,  and  is  not  advised 
except  in  cases  where  a  narrower  house  must  be  used  for  some 
reason. 

Walls  and  Roofs. — In  the  cold  parts  of  the  country,  the 
walls  and  roof  of  such  a  building  may  be  built  of  tongued  and 
grooved  boards  nailed  to  a  frame  work  of  two-by-fours,  and 
covered  with  two  or  three  thicknesses  of  tar  paper,  then  one 
thickness  of  any  good  brand  of  prepared  roofing.  This  con- 
struction, though  simple  and  cheap,  makes  a  wall  that  is  rea- 
sonably warm,  because  it  keeps  out  the  cold  and  is  warmed 
up  and  dried  out  quickly  when  the  sun  shines  on  it.  Shin- 
gles, clapboards,  or  any  kind  of  siding  on  the  outside  makes 
a  better  appearing  structure  and  a  warm  one,  but  more  ex- 
pensive. In  warmer  territories,  only  a  single  thickness  of 
boards  for  the  walls,  with  the  same  and  tarred  paper  or 
prepared  roofing  on  the  roof  to  make  it  water-tight,  is  re- 
quired. A  handsomer  finish  can  also  be  applied  to  the  same 
construction. 


402 


AMERICAN  POVLTRY  ASl^OCtATION 


Ventilation. — This  is  an  important  matter,  because  it  is 
known  that  the  presence  of  moisture  impairs  the  health  of 
fowls.  Fowls  throw  ofif  quantities  of  moisture  when  exhal- 
ing and  this  moisture,  together  with  that  which  originates 
from  any  other  source,  must  l)e  carried  out  of  the  building  by 
means  of  ventilation  or  currents  of  air.  These  air  currents,  if 
rapid,  cause  drafts  and  drafts  in  the  house  endanger  the 
health  of  the  fowls.  To  prevent  these  drafts  the  air  must  be 
allowed  to  enter  through  the  one  side  only  by  opening  the 
windows,  much  or  little,  according  to  the  temperature  and  the 
force  of  the  incoming  wind.  In  some  localities,  cloth  covered 
frames  are  placed  in  openings  between  the  windows  and  high 
enough  up  in  the  side  of  the  house  so  that  when  these  frames, 
which  should  be  hinged  at  the  top,  are  opened  the  drafts  can 
not  strike  the  fowls  on  the  floor.     These  cloth  covered  frames 


FARM  POULTEY  HOUSE,  MINNESOTA  MODEL 


Windows  hung  on  weights  and  pulleys  serve  as  ventilators  when 
required.  Openings  above  windows  fitted  with  two  sets  of  doors,  each 
of  which   can   be    closed   or    open,   provide    constant   ventilation. 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  403 

permit  the  air  to  enter  and  leave  the  house  slowly  and  provide 
ventilation  when  the  windows  are  closed  to  keep  out  the  wind. 
In  higher  houses  than  we  have  described,  a  loft  is  built  in  the 
top  of  the  structure  by  placing  boards  an  inch  apart,  high 
enough  to  clear  the  head  of  the  caretaker  and  covered  with 
a  thick  bed  of  straw  or  hay.  Openings  are  made  in  the  walls 
of  the  house  above  this  straw  or  hay  and  the  air  enters  and 
escapes  from  the  house  by  slowly  passing  up  and  down  through 
this  material. 

No  system  of  flues  and  pipes  will  work  satisfactorily  unless 
artificial  heat  is  .applied  to  create  a  draft  in  them.  In  warm 
parts  of  the  country  where  the  buildings  have  one  side  en- 
tirely open,  except  perhaps  for  a  wire  screen  to  keep  the  hens 
in  and  other  animals  out,  the  ventilation  takes  care  of'  itself, 
though  frequently  it  is  necessary  to  have  open  spaces  in  other 
sides  of  the  house  to  keep  it  comfortable  in  the  hottest  weather. 

Other  types  of  poultry  buildings,  including  those  with  the 
roof  divided  into  two  equal  pitches  and  those  with  the  roof 
divided  into  two  unequal  pitches,  can  readily  be  adapted  to 
suit  the  back  yard  poultry  keeper's  needs,  if  they  seem  to 
better  suit  his  convenience  and  fancy. 

Whatever  the  type  of  the  house,  it  should  be  so  constructed 
that  it  will  be  dry.  If  it  is  on  a  damp  location,  or  one  which 
is  not  well  drained  and  likely  to  be  damp  at  any  season  of  the 
year,  a  floor  is  necessary.  If,  however,  it  is  on  a  dry  location, 
the  floor  may  be  made  by  filling  in  with  gravel  and  sand 
to  a  height  a  few  inches  above  the  ground  level.  The  last 
named  method  makes  the  most  healthful  and  the  warmest 
floor. 

Interior  Equipment. — The  equipment  of  the  back  yard 
poultry  keeper's  hen  house  should  be  very  simple.  The  roost 
platform  should  be  placed  two  feet  above  the  floor,  so  that 
the  hens  can  use  the  floor  space  under  it,  against  the  north 
wall  of  the  house  and  the  roosts  should  be  set  from  six  to 
eight  inches  above  the  platform.  These  roosts  may  be  made 
of  small  dimension  stufif  that  is  not  more  than  two  inches  wide 
on  its  upper  surface,  with  the  corners  rounded,  or  of  round 
pieces  not  more  than  three  inches  in  diameter.  It  should  be 
remembered  that  when  the  hen  sits  down  on  the  roost  her 
toes  automatically  curl  and  for  that  reason  the  upper  surface 
of  the  roost  must  be  rounded.     If  more  than  one  roost  is  used, 


404  .i.i//;/«'/r.i\  roii/ruY  AssociATioy 

all  should  be  on  the  same  level  and  far  enough  apart  so  that 
the  fowls  will  not  be  crowded  when  the  roosts  are  full. 

Nests  may  be  made  of  ordinary  boxes,  large  enough  so 
that  a  hen  can  sit  down  in  them  comfortably,  and  hung  on 
the  walls,  or  they  may  be  made  to  look  better  by  any  special 
construction  and  the  use  of  good  lumber.  Grit  and  shell  boxes, 
feed  hoppers,  etc.,  may  be  hung  on  the  walls  at  convenient 
places  and  high  enough  so  that  the  dirt  will  not  be  scratched 
into  them  by  the  fowls.     (H.  A.  N.) 

CHAPTER  IV. 

SANITATION. 

The  average  poultry-keeper  pays  too  little  attention  to  the 
practice  of  the  principles  of  sanitation,  though  it  is  of  the 
greatest  importance  that  these  principles  should  be  thoroughly 
applied  in  both  the  poultry  houses  and  yards,  because  sanitary 
measures  must  be  practiced  assiduously  in  order  to  maintain 
normal  health  among  the  fowls. 

Every  condition  that  promotes  the  possibility  of  disease 
may  be  classed  as  unsanitary  and  the  elimination  of  such  con- 
ditions must  be  accomplished  as  quickly  after  discovery  as 
possible,  in  order  that  the  flock  may  be  kept  in  perfect  health, 
without  which  the  l)est  results  in  any  of  the  different  branches 
of  poultry  culture,  as  the  production  and  hatchability  of  eggs, 
and  the  lival)ility  and  growth  of  young  stock,  cannot  be  ob- 
tained. 

Cleanliness. — This  is  the  most  potent  agency  in  promoting 
sanitation.  The  vital  importance  of  cleanliness  must  be  ac- 
tepted  as  a  first  principle  in  the  successful  management  of  a 
poultry  establishment,  large  or  small.  Manifestly,  it  is  more 
dif^cult  and  laborious  to  maintain  cleanliness  when  large  num- 
bers of  fowls  or  chicks  are  kept  in  small  houses  and  runs,  than 
when  the  reverse  is  the  practice.  But,  in  that  case,  the  neces- 
sity is  in  a  proportionate  measure  more  urgent,  and  in  all  cases 
cleanliness,  not  as  a  theory  but  as  a  condition,  must  be  estab- 
lished and  maintained  in  all  parts  of  the  house,  including 
floors,  walls,  roosts,  roost  platforms  and  nests  and,  particu- 
larly, in  all  watering  and  feeding  devices.  Cleanliness  pre- 
vents disease  by  removing  the  germs  of  disease  and  the  accum- 
ulation of  tilth  which  is  conducive  to  their  increase  and  de- 
velopment. 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AXD  BREED  BOOK  405 

The  Use  of  Disinfectants. — The  intelligent  use  of  disin- 
fectants is  also  effective  as  a  method  of  destroying  germs  of 
disease.  There  are  numbers  of  these  that  can  be  relied  upon 
to  do  the  work  desired  if  the  directions  furnished  are  followed, 
but  while  they  serve  their  purpose  nicely,  it  should  be  under- 
stood that  the  necessity  for  their  use  is  reduced  or  increased 
as  cleanliness  is  practiced  or  neglected.  When  a  tolerable 
degree  of  cleanliness  is  constantly  maintained,  the  frequent 
use  of  disinfectants  will  not  be  necessary,  except  when  disease 
is  prevalent,  or  unless  it  is  to  destroy  or  prevent  the  intrusion 
of  lice  or  mites.  Cleanliness  of  all  parts  of  the  house  to  a 
degree  that  insures  against  ordinary  dangers  of  disease  can 
be  acquired  by  the  common  mechanical  process  of  cleaning, 
except  in  cases  of  feeding  and  drinking  appliances,  which  should 
be  scalded  or  washed  in  disinfectants  occasionally. 

Roost  platforms  should  be  cleaned  at  least  twice  a  week, 
or  daily  if  convenient,  and  with  the  roosts  should  be  treated 
copiously  with  a  liquid  disinfectant  which  is  an  insecticide 
as  well  as  a  germicide  once  a  month,  and  at  least  twice  as  often 
during  hot  weather.  The  floor  litter  should  be  removed  and 
renewed  as  often  as  necessary,  which  is  readily  determined  by 
inspection. 

Care  of  Grounds. — The  sanitation  of  the  small  poultry  yard 
is  often  a  serious  problem.  When  the  fowls  are  kept  on  the 
same  ground  for  a  considerable  length  of  time,  disease  germs 
multiply  so  rapidly  in  the  filth  which  accumulates,  that  the 
ground  becomes  so  contaminated  as  to  become  a  menace  to 
health.  Where  the  yards  are  exceptionally  small,  poultry- 
keepers  sometimes  remove  the  surface  of  the  soil  for  fertilizer 
and  replace  it  with  new  earth.  It  is  also  a  common  practice  to 
spade  up  the  earth,  turning  the  surface  under  and  bringing 
fresh  soil  to  the  top ;  but  even  when  this  is  done,  the  ground 
sooner  or  later  becomes  saturated  with  filth  which  nurtures 
germs  of  disease. 

Fortunately.  Nature  has  provided  a  way  for  cleansing  filthy 
ground  by  means  of  vegetable  growth  which  may  be  of  service 
to  the  poultry-keeper.  Wherever  possible  the  back  yard  poul- 
try-keeper, or  any  poultry-keeper  who  is  obliged  to  use  a  small 
area  of  ground,  should  take  advantage  of  this  fact  by  dividing 
his  yards,  so  that  while  the  fowls  are  running  in  one,  some 
quick-growing,  succulent  vegetation,  which  is  at  the  same  time 
purifying  the  soil  and  supplying  green  food,  is  being  produced 
in  the  other.     As   soon   as  this   vegetation   in  the   second  yard 


40G  AMERICAN  POULTRY  A8l^0CIATI0N 

has  obtained  a  good  start,  that  yard  may  again  be  used  by  the 
fowls,  and  greens  planted  in  the  yard  first  used.  By  this 
process  the  ground  can  be  kept  in  good  condition  and  a  cer- 
tain amount  of  green  food  constantly  furnished  the  fowls  in 
season.     (H.  A.  N.) 


CHAPTER  V. 

FEEDING  THE  BREEDING  FLOCK. 

Feeding  the  fowls  from  which  the  eggs  for  hatching  will 
be  secured  is  a  very  important  matter.  Sometimes  care  and 
feed  which  will  secure  a  good  yield  will  not  produce  eggs  that 
will  hatch  wdl,  nor  which  will  hatch  strong,  healthy  chicks. 
When  feeding  for  high  production  alone,  the  main  idea  is  to 
feed  the  hen  a  ration  that  will  enable  her  to  produce  the  most 
eggs  in  a  given  time,  and  that  very  often  overworks  her  so 
that  her  strength  and  vitality  are  reduced  to  such  an  extent 
that  she  will  seldom  lay  eggs  that  are  suitable  for  incuba- 
tion. To  produce  a  strong  chick,  the  egg  must  not  only  be 
perfect  so  far  as  table  qualities  are  concerned,  but  must  also 
possess  a  strong,  vigorous  life  germ  and  the  proper  life-giving 
material  to  develop  this  germ.  It  will  be  obvious  that  both 
the  male  and  females  in  the  breeding  pen  must  be  in  good 
physical  condition,  or  the  qualities  desired,  hatchability  of  the 
eggs  and  vitality  of  the  chicks  hatched,  will  be  lacking  in  the 
egg  produced. 

In  accordance  with  Nature's  plan,  the  hen  usually  waits 
until  warm  weather  comes  and  the  ground  is  covered  with 
green  grass  before  eggs  are  laid  and  incubated.  She  then 
finds  health-giving  nourishment  in  form  of  fresh  vegetable 
matter  and  has  an  invigorating  atmosphere  in  which  to  exer- 
cise and  build  up  her  powers  of  reproduction  to  a  high  degree 
— and  the  same  natural  conditions  favor  maximum  vitality  in 
the  male.  Conditions  are  very  different  in  most  poultry  yards 
because  the  poultry-keeper  has  found  it  necessary  to  hatch 
earlier  than  the  natural  season  in  order  to  get  the  most  profit 
from  the  chicks  and  because,  in  the  case  of  the  back  yard 
poultry-keeper  in  particular,  he  has  not  space  enough  for  much 
grass  to  grow  or  to  give  extended  range.  The  breeding  season 
comes  close  after  the  severe  winter  weather  in  the  northern 
states,  and  although  it  comes  earlier  in  the  South,  the  condi- 
tions are  approximately  the  same  as  related. 


PLYMOUTH  IWCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  40? 

It  often  happens  that  it  is  necessary  to  use  the  hens  for 
breeding  that  have  been  fed  for  egg  production  during  the 
winter.  The  vitahty  of  these  hens  may  have  been  somewhat 
reduced  by  heavy  laying.  This  condition  must  be  met  by 
building  up  and  maintaining  the  strength  of  the  birds.  To 
do  this  the  methods  of  management  must  be  arranged  and 
foods  selected  so  as  to  approach  as  closely  as  possible  the  meth- 
ods and  foods  which  Nature  uses  and  supplies  so  successfully 
later  in  the  season. 

A  Variety  of  Hard  Grains. — A  variety  of  feed  is  very  im- 
portant, for  it  is  useless  to  expect  the  fowls  to  obtain  from  any 
one  or  two  kinds  the  many  different  elements  which  are  needed 
to  build  up  and  strengthen  the  different  parts  of  the  body 
and  to  produce  the  egg  as  well.  A  variety  of  the  ordinary 
grains,  as  for  instance,  corn,  wheat,  and  oats,  usually  supplies 
the  needs  as  far  as  grain  is  concerned. 

The  feeding  of  these  grains  also  furnishes  an  opportunity 
to  compel  hens  which  are  in  small  quarters  to  take  exercise 
which  they  naturally  get  by  ranging  over  the  fields  in  warm 
weather.  The  floor  should  always  be  covered  with  a  litter  of 
straw,  leaves,  coarse  hay,  corn  stalks  or  shavings,  and  all  the 
whole  and  cracked  grain  buried  in  this  litter  so  that  the  fowls 
will  scratch  vigorously  to  get  it  and,  by  exercising  their 
muscles,  increase  the  flow  of  blood  in  their  arteries  and  veins, 
thus  better  nourish  the  different  parts  of  the  body.  While 
the  fowls  are  exercising,  the  windows  should  be  opened  suffi- 
ciently to  allow  them  to  breathe  the  pure  air  while  at  work. 
In  extremely  cold  weather,  a  very  small  opening  is  all  that  is 
necessary  to  keep  the  air  dry  and  pure. 

Ground  Grains  or  Mashes. — In  addition  to  the  hard  grain, 
which  is  fed  as  previously  directed,  a  mash,  either  dry  or 
damp,  is  usually  supplied.  Dry  mashes  are  fed  in  hoppers 
or  boxes  which  are  open  to  the  fowls  all  or  part  of  the  day. 
Damp  mashes  are  made  by  mixing  the  same  ingredients  which 
make  up  the  dry  mashes  with  milk  or  water  and  are  fed  in 
troughs  once  a  day,  usually.  After  each  meal  the  troughs 
are  cleaned  and  removed.  If  damp  mashes  are  allowed  to 
remain  before  the  fowls  very  long,  they  become  sour.  When 
in  this  condition  mashes  injure  the  digestive  organs  and  at  the 
same  time  are  likely  to  reduce  the  appetities  of  the  fowls,  and 
a  good  appetite  is  very  necessary  to  a  healthy  fowl. 

Animal  Foods. — In  addition  to  the  ground  hard  grains, 
meat-foods  and  greens  must  be   supplied.     The   most   common 


408  AMERICAN  POULTRY  At^SOCIATION 

methods  of  supplying-  animal  food  are  by  feeding  beef-scraps  or 
the  by-products  of  milk,  though  usually  it  is  best  to  furnish 
scraps  and  bone-meal  in  addition  to  the  milk.  With  that  variety 
the  results  are  likely  to  be  more  satisfactory.  Milk  can  be 
furnished  as  a  drink,  if  water  is  given  in  addition,  or  may  be 
mixed  in  the  mash  and  it  may  be  given  sweet,  clabbered,  whole 
or  skimmed. 

Green  Foods. — When  fowls  are  confined,  green  food  of 
some  sort  to  take  the  place  of  the  fresh  green  grass  and  tender 
young  shoots,  which  the  hen  gets  by  ranging  freely  in  the 
fields  in  warm  weather,  must  also  be  supplied.  In  the  early 
part  of  the  breeding  season  when  the  fowls  are  to  be  put  in 
condition  for  breeding  the  poultryman  must  depend  entirely 
on  mangels,  beets,  cabbages,  sprouted  oats  and  green  stuff  of 
that  kind.  Green-cured  clover  and  alfalfa,  ground  finely  or 
cut  in  short  lengths,  are  often  added  to  the  damp  mash  or 
moistened  and  fed  separately,  furnishing  green  food  to  some 
extent,  but  it  does  not  take  the  place  of  the  fresh  succulence 
of  the  greener  foods.  It  will  not  do  to  feed  mouldy  or  spoiled 
vegetables  of  any  kind,  and  when  sprouted  oats  are  used  the 
poultryman  should  be  particularly  careful  that  they  do  not  get 
musty  or  mouldy  while  sprouting. 

Too  Fattening  Rations. — If  the  fowls  are  inclined  to  get 
too  heavy  or  too  fat,  the  more  fattening  foods  of  the  ration, 
like  corn  and  cornmeal,  should  be  reduced  in  quantity  and  the 
muscle-forming  elements  like  bran,  clover,  alfalfa  and  meat 
foods  should  be  increased.  This  answers  better  than  to  give 
less  food  if  the  fowls  are  eating  well,  because  less  food  is  likely 
to  reduce  their  strength. 

Outdoor  Exercise. — When  the  weather  is  warm  enough  to 
permit,  some  breeders  allow  their  fowls  to  get  a  part  of  their 
exercise  by  scratching  in  straw  which  is  placed  on  the  ground 
in  front  of  the  house.  In  some  cases  the  snow  is  shoveled 
away  for  that  purpose.     (H.  A.  N.) 


PLYMOVTH  ROCK  ST.\M).\h'D  A\T)  BUEED  BOOK  409 

CHAPTER  VI. 

THE    HEALTH    OF    THE    BREEDING    FLOCK 
IN  CONFINEMENT. 

Breeding  fowls  that  are  kept  in  houses  or  houses  and  small 
yards  have  less  opportunity  to  keep  in  vigorous  health  than 
breeding  stock  which  is  allowed  free  range  when  the  weather 
permits,  or  has  the  run  of  extensive  yards.  As  we  have  before 
mentioned,  the  only  way  to  secure  and  maintain  health  and 
vigor  in  a  breeding  flock  is  to  provide  as  nearly  as  possible 
the  things  the  flock  would  secure  if  it  were  running  wild  in 
the  natural  breeding  season. 

Healthy  Stock. — In  the  first  place,  the  stock  must  be 
healthy  to  start  with.  It  is  a  waste  of  time  and  money  to 
attempt  to  breed  health  and  strength  into  a  flock  in  confine- 
ment. With  healthy  stock  to  start  with  and  proper  surround- 
ings, proper  care  and  proper  feed,  then  health  may  be  main- 
tained to  a  satisfactory  degree ;  but  unless  surroundings,  feed 
and  care  are  what  they  should  be,  the  fowls  will  weaken  sooner 
or  later,  and  succeeding  generations  will  have  less  and  less 
vigor  as  time  goes  on. 

The  House. — A  healthful  house  is  of  the  first  importance 
and  a  house  which  furnishes  the  requirements  for  health  is 
likewise  a  comfortable  house,  and  a  comfortable  house  is  the 
most  profitable  house  to  use.  A  sufificient  amount  of  ventila- 
tion to  keep  the  air  reasonably  pure,  protection  from  drafts 
and  severe  cold,  provision  for  plenty  of  sunlight  in  every  part 
of  the  house,  at  least  during  part  of  the  day.  are  the  prin- 
cipal requirements.  Under  such  conditions  fowls  that  are 
properly  fed  and  cared  for  will  maintain  their  vitality. 

Feeding. — Good  feeding  is  another  requisite  and  good  feed- 
ing must  include  sufficient  variety  of  the  right  kinds  of  food, 
comprising  whole  and  cracked  grains,  ground  grains,  meat 
food,  green  food,  grit,  charcoal  and  oyster  shells.  The  grain 
must  be  fed  in  deep  litter  to  encourage  exercise,  for  without 
exercise  no  fowls  remain  healthy.  Feeding  at  regular  hours 
helps  to  keep  the  digestive  organs  of  the  fowls  in  good  condi- 
tion and  hens  that  have  good  digestion  are  likely  to  have 
good  health,  at  least,  so  far  as  anything  affected  by  food  is 
concerned. 


410  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

Management. — Good  care  is  of  the  utmost  importance,  and 
good  care  includes  not  only  careful  methods  of  supplying- 
feed  but  careful  methods  of  adjusting  ventilation,  cleaning 
and  disinfecting  the  house,  etc.  Closing  the  house  up  too 
tightly  in  moderate  weather  and  allowing  it  to  remain  too 
open  in  severe  weather  is  a  prolific  source  of  trouble ;  colds 
develop  and  colds  weaken  the  bird's  power  of  resistance  to 
other  diseases.  Drafts  allowed  to  blow  on  the  fowls  day  or 
night,  especially  at  night  when  they  are  inactive  on  the  roosts, 
will  be  likely  to  cause  colds  in  the  flock.  When  kept  upon 
filthy  or  damp  floors  or  litter,  fowls  are  vmcomfortable  and 
soon  get  into  such  condition  that  they  are  easily  affected  by 
any  kind  of  disease  germs. 

Unclean  nests  not  only  injure  the  eggs  laid  there  but 
menace  the  health  of  the  hens.  Filthy  dropping  boards  fur- 
nish a  place  for  the  breeding  of  germs  of  disease  and  vermin. 
All  these  fittings  should  be  kept  clean  and  should  be  disin- 
fected occasionally.  Vermin  must  not  be  allowed  to  get  a 
foothold.  It  not  only  makes  the  fowls  uncomfortable,  but 
actually  tortures  them  in  some  cases  and  by  so  doing  reduces 
their  strength  and  vitality. 

New  Blood. — When  adding  new  blood  to  the  stock,  extreme 
care  should  be  taken  to  obtain  the  most  vigorous  and  healthy 
birds,  for  anything  else  not  only  fails  to  assist  in  maintaining 
the  health  of  the  flock,  but  it  reduces  the  necessary  vitality. 
(H.  A.  N.) 


BARRED  PLYMOUTJI    HOCK  hAHY   CUli'\<i< 
(Courtesy  Minnesota  Agricultural  College) 


SECTION     II. 

THE  YOUNG  STOCK 
CHAPTER  I. 

HATCHING  AND  BROODING. 

IN  MOST  CASES  the  keeper  of  a  back  yard  Hock  depends 
on  the  old  hen  that  can  cover  thirteen  to  fifteen  eggs  to  do 
the  hatching  and  she  is  as  often  entrusted  with  the  busi- 
ness of  brooding  the  chicks.  If  the  hens  begin  laying  in  the 
fall  or  early  winter,  there  are  sure  to  be  some  broody  ones 
among  any  of  the  varieties  of  Plymouth  Rocks  by  March 
first,  which  is  as  early  as  most  poultry-keepers  care  to  set 
hens.  If  the  hens  do  not  ])ecome  broody  early  enough,  or  if 
the  poultry-keeper  prefers  to  break  up  those  which  do  become 
broody  in  order  to  get  them  to  laying  again,  and  use  their 
eggs  for  hatching,  a  small  incubator  is  a  practical  necessity. 
All  the  high-grade  makes  will  give  satisfactory  results  if 
properly  handled  and  svipplied  with  good  eggs.  Furthermore, 
they  are  so  perfected  that  they  require  but  little  care  and  are 
safe  and  also  easy  to  handle.  Inasmuch  as  complete  instruc- 
tions for  operating  are  supplied  with  each  machine,  it  is  not 
necessary  to  describe  these  methods  in  this  book. 

The  Sitting  Hen's  Nest. — Setting  a  hen  is  a  more  important 
and  exacting  matter  than  most  people  think.  Many  hatches 
are  spoiled  because  the  nests  are  not  properly  made.  It  is 
unreasonable  to  expect  a  hen  to  distribute  her  warmth  over 
a  large  area  and  still  have  enough  to  incubate  the  eggs,  par- 
ticularly in  cold  weather.  A  warm  nest  is  absolutely  neces- 
sary and  that  means  that  it  must  be  made,  or  at  least  lined, 
with  a  fine  material,  such  as  fine,  soft  hay  and  be  built  in  a 
good,  warm  box.  The  sides  of  the  box,  however,  should  not 
be  so  high  that  the  hen  will  land  heavily  on  the  eggs  when 
getting  down  into  the  nest,  or  one  side  must  be  cut  down  to 
allow  her  to  enter  easily.  At  the  same  time  the  box  must  be 
deep  enough  to  extend  well  up  around  the  side  of  the  hen's 
body  and  of  the  right  size  so  that  the  hen  will  fit  snugly  to 
the  nest,   so  that  the  heat   of   her  body   may  be  adequate   for 

411 


412  AMKRICW   I'Ol  I.Th'Y  Assoc  I  \TI()\ 

incubation,  even  in  cold  weatlier.  The  bottom  of  the  nest 
should  be  slightly  lower  in  the  center  so  that  the  eggs  will 
tend  to  keep  closely  together,  but  if  the  nest  is  too  deep  in 
the  center,  the  eggs  are  more  apt  to  be  crushed  or  broken. 
Just  enough  gradual  drop  is  necessary  to  keep  the  eggs  under 
the  hen  and  in  the  center  of  the  nest.  Less  chicks  are  crushed 
during  hatching  in  a  nest  that  is  flat  or  almost  flat,  therefore 
the  nest  may  be  flattened  by  removing  the  material  on  the 
outside  when  hatching  time  arrives,  so  that  the  eggs  on  the 
outside  will  not  exert  too  much  pressure  on  the  newly  hatched 
chicks,  or  on  the  chicks  that  are  partly  out  of  the  shell  and 
are  located  in  the  center  of  the  nest. 

Care  During  the  Sitting  Period. — X'ermin  must  not  W 
allowed  to  exist  on  a  sitting  hen,  and  she  should  have  her 
plumage  treated  with  lice  killing  powder  just  before  she  is 
set.  and  again  every  six  days,  the  last  time  at  least  twenty- 
four  hours  before  the  chicks  are  expected  to  break  the  shell. 
Usually  the  hen  will  do  well  while  sitting  if  fed  on  a  variety 
of  hard  grains,  but  many  poultry-keepers  depend  entirely  on 
corn,  and  we  have  had  good  results  by  feeding  that  grain 
alone  during  the  incubating  period,  perhaps  because  corn 
is  a  heating  food,  and  the  hen  requires  considerable  of  that 
kind  of  nourishment  to  keep  uj)  the  incubating  temperature. 
To  assist  digestion  a  supply  of  grit  and  charcoal  should  always 
be  ready  when  the  hen  comes  off  the  nest,  as  well  as  plenty 
of  fresh,  clean  water.  The  hen  should  leave  the  nest  once  a 
day,  and  usually  the  morning  is  the  best  time.  The  hen 
knows  when  feeding  times  come  and  is  nervous  and  restless 
if  it  is  allowed  to  pass  without  feed  being  given  her.  This 
results  in  a  complete  or  partial  loss  of  the  eggs.  Hence, 
punctuality  and  regularity  in  feeding  and  care  are  vitally  im- 
portant. 

Care  at  Hatching  Period. — When  the  chicks  are  hatching, 
it  is  well  to  remove  the  empty  shells  so  that  they  will  not  caj) 
the  unhatched  eggs  and  perhaps  prevent  the  chicks  from 
getting  out.  When  the  hatch  is  complete  the  hen  should  be 
encouraged  to  stay  on  the  nest  for  twenty-four  hours,  after 
she  has  been  taken  off,  fed,  and  returned.  In  cold  weather, 
the  chicks  should  be  covered  with  a  warm  cloth  while  the 
mother  hen  is  being  fed. 

Care  of  Baby  Chicks.— When  they  are  from  twenty-four  to 
thirty-six  hours  old,  the  hen  and  brood  should  be  removed  to 
the  brood  coop  and  it  is  best  to  darken  the  coop  at  intervals 


I'LYMOl  TU  ROCK  STAXDAh'l)  AM>  liRtJED  BOOK  413 

during  the  first  day  so  that  the  hen  will  brood  the  chicks 
frequently  and  conserve  their  strength.  Unless  the  weather 
is  warm  the  brood  coop  should  not  be  placed  outdoors,  but 
should  be  given  a  place  in  a  well  lighted  building  which  is 
clean  and  which  has  been  thoroughly  disinfected  if  neces- 
sary. In  warm  weather  the  little  chicks  can  be  moved  to  a 
coop  on  the  warm  ground  immediately,  and  should  always 
be  given  fresh  green  grassy  runs.  They  should  not  be  put 
where  older  broods  or  fowls  have  been  running  earlier  in  the 
season. 

Feeding  the  Baby  Chick, — The  first  feed  may  be  stale  but 
not  musty  or  mouldy  bread,  moistened  with  milk  and  then 
squeezed  quite  dry,  with  a  little  grit  and  a  little  finely  granu- 
lated charcoal  sprinkled  on  it ;  johnny  cake  baked  hard,  crum- 
bled and  fed  dry ;  hard  boiled  egg  chopped  fine  and  mixed 
half  and  half  with  bread  crumbs;  steel  cut  oatmeal,  or  any. of 
the    numerous,    satisfactory    rations    given    to    little    chicks   by 


NESTS  FOE  SETTING  HENS,  BUILT  IN  PAIRS 

Placed  on  the  ground  or  floor  in  any  building  if  secluded.  By  this 
arrangement  the  hens  may  be  fastened  on  and  fed  at  regular  intervals 
or  allowed  to  come  off  and  go  on  at  will. 


414  AMERICAN  POULTRY  A.SSOCIATION 

successful  poultry-keepers.  Sometimes  the  chicks  are  started 
from  the  very  first  on  prepared  chick  feeds,  made  from  finely 
cracked  grains,  and  when  they  can  have  plenty  of  outdoor 
exercise  they  will  do  well  on  such  a  ration.  They  should  be 
fed  five  times  a  day  at  the  start.  Milk  is  especially  good  for 
little  chicks,  but  plenty  of  clean  water  must  also  be  provided, 
for  milk  will  not  take  its  place.  A  little  lettuce  or  a  tender 
cabbage  leaf  may  be  given  each  day  from  the  first.  No  better 
green  food  can  be  supplied  young  chicks  than  short,  tender 
grass  on  the  sod. 

Cleanliness,  plenty  of  pure  air.  warmth,  protection  from 
chilling  winds  and  lots  of  sunlight  are  essential  to  the  well  being 
of  the  little  chicks. 

The  Artificial  Method. — If  incubators  are  used,  the  chicks 
should  remain  in  the  incubator  until  they  are  from  twenty- 
four  to  thirty-six  hours  old.  They  should  then  be  removed 
to  the  ])rooder,  which  should  occupy  a  well-lighted,  clean 
room  where  there  is  plenty  of  sun.  The  hover  should  pre- 
viously have  been  warmed  to  a  temperature  of  about  ninety 
degrees.  After  the  chicks  are  in.  their  animal  heat  will  raise 
the  temperature  under  the  house  from  ninety  to  about  ninety- 
five  degrees. 

It  is  advisable  to  keep  the  youngsters  under  the  hover  most 
of  the  time  during  the  first  twenty-four  hours,  letting  them 
out  at  frequent  intervals  to  become  accustomed  to  the  brooder, 
and  to  drink  a  little  water  and  eat  a  little  food.  After  the 
first  day  they  may  be  allowed  to  go  in  and  out  at  will,  unless 
they  are  found  to  crowd  in  the  corners,  when  they  must  be 
returned  to  the  hover  until  warm  again,  for  crowding  in  out- 
side corners  always  means  that  they  are  chilly.  The  same 
food  that  was  recommended  for  chicks  with  hens  will  prove 
equally  satisfactory  for  chicks  in  brooders.     (H.  A.  N.) 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  415 

CHAPTER  II. 

CARE  OF  THE  GROWING  STOCK. 

After  the  little  chicks  are  well  started  on  life's  journey, 
under  the  old  hen  or  in  the  brooder,  it  is  necessary  to  see  that 
they  have  proper  care  throughout  the  growing  period.  A 
setback  at  any  time  in  their  growth  can  never  be  entirely  over- 
come and  the  more  severe  the  setback,  the  greater  the  harm. 
The  brood  should  be  kept  with  the  hen  or  in  the  brooder  as 
long  as  artificial  heat  is  necessary,  which  is  until  they  are 
well  covered  with  their  chicken  feathers  and  sometimes  longer, 
depending  on  the  season  of  the  year.  They  may,  of  course, 
remain  in  the  same  (juarters  if  the  weather  continues  cold 
and  be  allowed  to  run  out  doors  only  when  conditions  are 
favorable.  Unless  the  accommodations  are  ample,  they  are 
likely  to  soon  outgrow  them  and  more  room  must  be  fur- 
nished. A  brood  mothered  by  a  hen  can  sometimes  be  kept 
in  a  good  sized  brood  coop  for  a  short  time  after  the  hen  weans 
them,  but  they  soon  fill  a  coop  of  ordinary  size  so  completely 
that  they  are  crowded  at  night.  Before  that  occurs  they 
should  be  removed  to  what  are  generally  known  as  roosting 
coops. 

Roosting  Coops. — These  roosting  coops  are  of  various 
sizes,  but  a  common  size  is  six  feet  long,  three  feet  wide,  three 
feet  high  in  front  and  two  feet  high  at  the  rear.  If  the  chicks 
use  these  little  buildings  during  the  heat  of  the  summer,  it  is 
customary  to  make  the  front  entirely  of  wire  netting  or  slats, 
so  that  the  air  can  circulate  freely.  To  provide  protection 
against  the  storms  and  occasional  cool  weather,  especially 
in  the  fall,  a  burlap  or  cotton  cloth  curtain  is  often  arranged 
so  that  it  can  be  rolled  or  dropped  down  to  cover  the  open 
side,  in  this  way  shutting  out  strong  winds  and  driving  rains. 
This  curtain  should  not  be  kept  down  except  when  necessary 
for  the  before  mentioned  reasons,  because  at  any  other  time 
it  confines  the  air  too  much  and  makes  it  too  warm  for  the 
youngsters. 

When  the  brooder  chicks  are  ready  to  be  put  out  on  the 
range,  that  is,  when  they  no  longer  need  the  protection  of  the 
brooder  or  colony  house  in  which  the  brooder  is  operated, 
they  are  usually  put  into  the  roosting  coops  which  are  dis- 
tributed over  the  range.  The  same  procedure  is  followed  in 
the  case  of  hen-brooded  chicks. 


416  AMERICAX  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

Rearing  in  Restricted  Quarters. — The  back  yard  poultry 
keejjer  faces  a  serious  situation  when  attempting  to  rear  chicks, 
yet  good  results  can  be  obtained  on  a  small  area.  If  one  has 
no  more  room  than  is  necessary  for  the  fowls,  it  is  useless 
to  try  to  raise  chicks  in  his  back  yard,  because  chicks  can- 
not occupy  the  same  ground  as  the  fowis  and  do  well ;  nor 
can  they  occupy  ground  that  has  been  fouled  to  any  extent. 
Under  such  condnions,  arrangements  must  be  made  to  have 
the  chicks  grown  away  from  home,  and  care  should  be  taken 
to  get  them  into  the  right  hands  and  to  be  sure  that  they 
have  suitable  quarters  and  proper  feed.  If  the  home  quar- 
ters are  of  a  fair  size,  it  is  possible  to  grow  very  good  chickens 
by  giving  them  extra  care.  The  same  method  of  cooping 
should  be  followed  as  if  they  were  on  range  and  the  outdoor 
runs  should  be  frequently  spaded  over.  1  he  location  of  the 
coop  and  yard  should  be  changed  every  few  days  if  possib.e, 
and  some  small  grain  wdiich  sprouts  quickly  planted  in  each 
spot  as  soon  as  it  is  vacated.  As  the  chicks  can  not  develop 
muscle  and  will  not  be  healthy  or  strong  without  exercise, 
Lhey  must  be  made  to  scratch  vigorously  in  litter  for  the  dry 
grain  part  of  their  ration. 

Cleanliness  is  absolutely  necessary  in  all  cases,  and  the 
coop  must  be  cleaned  at  frequent  intervals  and  occasionally 
aismfected,  especially  the  floor.  If,  as  the  chicks  grow,  they 
hll  the  coop  to  a  point  where  it  becomes  crowded,  the  flocks 
must  be  divided,  for  each  chick  should  have  ample  room  to 
sit  on  the  floor  comfortably  at  night.  When  the  youngsters 
are  half-grown  they  may  be  given  roosts  placed  lengthwise 
of  the  coop,  two  being  as  many  as  can  be  used  satisfactorily 
in  a  coop  of  the  dimensions  we  have  mentioned.  These  roosts 
should  be  of  good  size,  but  round  enough  on  top  so  that  the 
toes  of  the  chicks  can  curl  around  them,  as  Nature  intended, 
when  the  chicks   sit  down. 

Lice  will  injure  or  even  destroy  a  flock  of  chicks  if  given 
any  lee-way,  and  liquid  mite  killer  should  be  used  on  the 
floors  of  the  coops  and  on  the  ropsts  when  the  roosts  are 
put  in.  The  chicks  should  be  dusted  thoroughly  with  a  lice 
killing  powder,  if  any  lice  are  discovered  en  them,  and  one 
should  search  industriously  for  vermin  at  frequent  intervals. 
(H.  A.  N.) 


PLYMOl  TH  ROCK  .STANDARD  AM)  BREED  BOOK  417 

CHAPTER  III. 

FEEDING  FOR  GROWTH. 

There  are  various  methods  of  feeding  growing  chicks, 
many  of  which  are  entirely  satisfactory.  The  test  is  whether 
or  not  they  produce  the  desired  results.  A  great  many  dififer- 
ent  food  elements  are  required  to  nourish  properly  the  differ- 
ent parts  of  the  chick's  body,  and  unless  food  is  given  in 
reasonable  variety  the  chick  usually  cannot  obtain,  from  what 
is  given  it,  enough  of  all  the  elements  required  to  make  satis- 
factory growth.  Obviously,  if  too  much  fat  forming  material 
is  given  and  too  little  of  the  material  that  makes  the  lean 
meat  and  muscle,  the  chick  can  not  develop  as  it  should.  A 
chick  on  free  range  can  sometimes  overcome  mistakes  in  feed- 
ing by  collecting  from  the  range  the  different  food  elements 
which  it  requires  but  does  not  obtain  from  the  food  provided. 

In  the  back  yard  poultry  keeper's  little  flock  of  young,  this 
can  not  be  done,  and  the  owner  must  be  careful  to  furnish  a 
reasonably  well  balanced  ration. 

A  good  ration  for  chicks  from  two  weeks  to  one  month  old 
is  as  follows : 

A  mash  consisting  of  three  parts  each  (by  weight)  of 
wheat  bran  and  cornmeal,  one  part  wheat  middlings  and  one 
part  beef  scraps,  mixed  dry  and  kept  before  them  in  hoppers; 
a  mixture  of  three  parts  cracked  wheat,  two  parts  finely 
cracked  corn  and  one  part  pinhead  oatmeal,  fed  in  a  litter  in 
order  to  compel  them  to  scratch  for  it.  During  the  second 
month  of  their  lives,  the  same  dry  mash  may  be  always  avail- 
able and  a  mixture  of  three  parts  wheat,  two  parts  cracked 
corn  and  one  part  of  hulled  oats  may  be  given  for  scratch 
feed.  From  the  end  of  that  time  until  they  are  grown  they 
should  have  constantly  before  them  in  hoppers,  a  dry  mix- 
ture consisting  of  three  parts  wheat  bran,  three  parts  wheat 
middlings,  three  parts  cornmeal,  and  two  parts  beef  scraps, 
and  a  scratch  mixture  of  equal  parts  of  wheat  and  cracked 
corn,  if  they  are  on  free  range.  If  not  on  free  range,  the 
scratch  mixture  should  be  given  in  a  litter,  to  induce  exercise, 
twice  a  day.  The  same  mash  may  be  mixed  with  water,  or 
sweet  or  sour  milk,  and  fed  once  a  day,  in  addition,  to  hasten 
development. 


418  AM  ERIC  AX  POULTRY  ASSOCIATIOy 

\'ery  simple  rations  sometimes  prove  quite  effective  when 
chicks  are  on  free  range.  A  hopper  of  beef  scraps  and  a 
hopper  of  cracked  corn  constantly  in  reach  is  said  to  grow 
excellent  chicks,  the  corn  furnishing  the  heating  and  fatten- 
ing part  of  the  ration,  and  the  beef  scraps  the  material  of 
which  to  make  solid  flesh.  Of  course,  the  chicks  pick  up  the 
green  stuff  and  other  food  on  the  range.  We  would  not  ad- 
vise anyone  to  feed  such  a  ration  to  chicks  confined  in  yards, 
because,  if  there  were  no  other  arguments  against  it,  it  is 
plain  that  the  chicks  would  soon  tire  of  it. 

Chicks  in  yards  must  always  be  furnished  green  stuff  once 
each  day,  but  none  should  be  allowed  to  remain  after  they  have 
satisfied  their  appetites,  because  it  soon  becomes  unwhole- 
some. Grit  and  charcoal  should  always  be  available  and  plenty 
of  fresh  water  must  be  furnished.  If  milk  can  be  given  them 
to  drink  in  addition  to  water,  better  growth  will  result. 
(H.  A.  N.) 


COLONY    COOP   FOE   YOUNG    CHICKS 
Design    from    Minnesota    Agricultural    College.      Capacity    three    or 
four  hens  and  50  or  60  small  chicks.     Later  twenty-four  larger  chicks. 
Wire   front   can   be   protected   during   stormy   weather   by   bran   sacks   at 
either  end. 


PART   SIX 

UTILITY  FEATURES  OF  THE  PLYMOUTH 
ROCKS 


SECTION    I.      MARKET    QUALITIES    OF    THE    PLYM- 
OUTH  ROCKS. 


Chapter  I.         THE  TERM  ''UTILITY"  EXPLAINED. 

Chapter  H.       THE  PLYMOUTH  ROCK  AS  A  GEN- 
ERAL PURPOSE  FOWL. 


Chapter  III.     THE  PLYMOUTH  ROCK  AS  A  MAR- 
KET FOWL. 

Chapter  IV.      THE  PLYMOUTH  ROCK  AS  A  TABLE 
FOWL. 


SECTION  II.     PLYMOUTH  ROCKS   AS  PROLIFIC   EGG 
PRODUCERS. 

Chapter  L        PLYMOUTH   ROCK    EGGS. 

Chapter  IL      PLYMOUTH  ROCKS  IN  EGG  LAYING 
CONTESTS. 


419 


SECTION     I  . 

MARKET  QUALITIES  OF  THE  PLYMOUTH 
ROCKS 

CHAPTER  I. 

THE   TERM  ''UTILITY"   EXPLAINED. 

THE  CHAPTER  ON  THE  utility  feature  of  the  Plym- 
outh Rock  fowl  may  very  well  contain  a  definition  of 
what  is  meant  by  the  term  "utility."  It  is  so  often 
misused  that,  far  contrary  to  its  real  meaning,  it  has  come 
to  mean  to  many  not  much  more  than  lack  of  Standard  qual- 
ity. This  is  due  to  the  fact  that  it  has  become  a  custom  among 
fanciers  to  sell  or  ofTer  for  sale  all  the  stock  that  does  not 
meet  the  requirements  of  the  Standard  of  Perfection  in  a 
degree  to  meet  the  approval  of  those  that  buy  it  on  that  basis 
as  "utility"  stock,  or  eggs  from  such  stock  as  "utility"  eggs. 
In  many  cases,  not  only  the  quality  but  the  vitality  of  such 
stock  has  become  so  inferior  that  the  term  has  fallen  into 
disrepute.  "Utility-stock"  now  means  to  a  great  many  who 
have  perhaps  suffered  in  their  transactions  along  this  line 
with  unprincipled  breeders  and  dealers,  and  we  are  thankful 
that  it  is  usually  the  latter,  simply  something  that  is  unfit  to 
sell  as  Standard -bred  stock.  This  application  of  the  word  is 
to  be  regretted  as  "Utility-stock"  should  be  desirable  stock 
that  is  useable  for  its  purpose,  and  the  word  utility  should  be 
held  to  its  original  meaning  when  it  applies  either  to  breeding 
or  to  sales. 

"Utility-stock"  is  that  which  yields  a  useful  product.  The 
utility  products  from  poultry  are  two  only,  flesh  and  eggs. 
Stock  that  will  produce  progeny  of  a  superior  meat  quality,  or 
that  grows  and  produces  flesh  more  rapidly  than  does  ordinary 
stock  is  entitled  to  the  term  "utility,"  and  such  stock  does 
not  discount  itself  or  discredit  the  term. 

"Utility-stock"  should  have  utility  quality,  and  should  not 
be  confused  with  Standard-bred  specimens  of  poor  quality.  To 
be  such  is  the  result  of  accident  very  often.     To  improve  any 

420 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STAyOARD  AXD  BREED  BOOK  421 

quality  in  any  stock,  the  most  satisfactory  results  are  obtained 
by  selecting  for  that  quality. 

Standard-bred  Fowls,  Useful. — It  is  a  noteworthy  fact  and 
the  most  convincing  refutation  to  any  imputation  that  Stand- 
ard-bred poultry  is  ornamental  rather  than  useful,  that  in  the 
beginning  all  of  our  American  breeds  originated  with  men  who 
were  interested  in  poultry  in  a  practical  way  and  not  as  fan- 
ciers ;  consequently,  these  breeds  took  on  at  the  start  a  practi- 
cal rather  than  a  fanciful  aspect.  Both  aspects  have  been  im- 
proved. That  our  American  breeds,  including  all  varieties  of 
Plymouth  Rocks,  have  improved  in  appearance,  everyone  in- 
terested is  aware,  but  that  they  have  improved  in  usefulness 
and  productiveness  some  may  not  be  disposed  to  admit,  yet  all 
available  records,  both  public  and  private,  show  such  an  enor- 
mous advance  in  these  respects  as  to  be  almost  incredible,  not 
only  to  those  skeptically  inclined  but  to  all,  except  the  com- 
paratively small  number  who  because  of  business  or  other 
interests  follow  the  results  of  such  tests  most  closely. 

It  should  not  be  concluded  from  the  foregoing  statement 
that  fowls  should  be  bred  to  improve  in  one  particular  alone; 
although  it  often  happens  that  a  specimen  of  the  most  pro- 
nounced degree  of  excellency  in  a  certain  particular  is  often 
so  deficient  in  other  requirements  that  no  one  of  good  judg- 
ment would  use  it  in  a  breeding  capacity,  and  for  that  reason 
alone  it  often  happens  that  we  do  not  acquire  one  quality  as 
rapidly  or  in  as  marked  a  degree  as  though  we  limited  our 
selections  for  that  one  quality  alone. 

Yet  rapid  growth  and  laying  qualities  are  very  dependent 
upon  health  and  vigor,  and  when  selections  for  these  qualities 
are  the  rule,  more  productive  fowls  are  bred. 


422  AMEinCAX  POULTRY  ASt^OCIATION 

CHAPTER  II. 

THE  PLYMOUTH  ROCK  AS  A  GENERAL 
PURPOSE  FOWL. 

The  shape  of  Plymouth  Rocks  required  by  the  Standard 
of  Perfection  is  such  as  to  insure  the  highest  quality  as  a 
table  and  general  purpose  fowl.  The  "rather  long"  back, 
which  is  "broad  its  entire  length" ;  the  "broad,  full,  moderately 
deep,  well-rounded"  breast  and  the  rather  "long,  broad, 
deep,  full"  body  which  extends  "well  forward",  guarantee  the 
largest  proportion  of  edible  flesh  and  the  least  waste  in  bone, 
feathers  and  refuse.  The  long  keel  bone,  the  plump  breast 
and  large  thighs,  all  of  which  are  well  covered  with  tender 
flesh  of  finest  texture,  give  the  exceptional  quality  desired  for 
table  use  to  the  choicest  portions  of  the  bird. 

The  shape  of  the  body  also  affords  ample  room  for  large 
and  vigorous  egg  organs  and  a  digestive  system  which  is  con- 
ducive to  high  egg  production.  They  produce  large  numbers  of 
brown  shelled  eggs  and  also  produce  flesh  rapidly.  They  are 
rapid  growers,  quick  to  mature,  and  fatten  easily. 

The  economic  value  of  the  breed  is  shown  by  its  wide 
scope  of  usefulness.  They  are  well  suited  for  pleasure  or 
profit ;  for  a  city  lot  or  for  the  farm ;  for  the  show  room  or  for 
commercial  purposes.  It  matters  not  what  may  be  wanted, 
broilers,  roasters,  mature  fowls,  capons  or  layers.  Plymouth 
Rocks  possess  qualities  which  recommend  them  if  they  have 
been  selected  and  bred  according  to  standard  requirements. 
Birds  of  this  breed  are  of  a  quiet,  gentle  disposition  and  they 
are  easily  confined. 

Because  of  their  combined  market  qualities  and  egg  laying 
ability,  the  Plymouth  Rocks  are  recognized  as  a  great  dual 
purpose  or  general  purpose  breed. 

Plymouth  Rocks  are  faithful  sitters  and  good  mothers. 
They  are  active  as  well  as  good  foragers,  and  will  find  a  good 
portion  of  their  living  if  given  the  opportunity.  Their  combs 
being  of  medium  size  and  their  bodies  rather  blocky,  compact 
and  well  feathered,  they  are  prepared  to  withstand  severe 
weather.  Their  type  is  one  that  is  symbolical  with  great  vigor, 
and  is  well  adapted  to  varying  conditions ;  it  is  also  one  which 
combines  many  desirable  qualities  in  one  fowl. 

The  chicks  reach  maturity  quickly  and  some  pullets  have 
been  known  to  lay  at  five  months  of  age.     It  is  not  advisable 


I'LYMOLTH  ROCK  STAXDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  423 

to  force  them  too  rapidly  for  fear  it  will  stunt  their  growth, 
that  is,  it  is  not  best  to  force  early  laying  at  the  cost  of  size, 
bone  and  muscle,  if  the  pullets  are  to  be  used  subsequently 
as  breeders ;  but  if  they  are  intended  for  broilers  or  roasters, 
they  may  be  fed  heavily  on  growing  and  fattening  foods,  upon 
which  they  will  develop  very  rapidly  and  reach  the  broiler  age 
in  nine  to  fifteen  weeks,  depending  upon  the  size  and  type  of 
broilers  desired.     (T.  E.  Q.) 


CHAPTER  III. 

THE   PLYMOUTH   ROCK   AS    A    MARKET   FOWL. 

The  fact  that  the  Plymouth  Rock  rapidly  gained  popu- 
larity and  still  is  the  most  popular  breed  of  poultry  among 
farmers  simply  means  it  has  stood  the  test  for  more  than 
a  quarter  of  a  century  and  has  not  been  found  wanting.  A 
farmer's  fowl  which  represents  ninety  per  cent  of  the  entire 
poultry  crop  of  the  continent  is  no  mean  fowl.  A  farmer  wants 
meat  as  well  as  eggs.  Step  into  almost  any  special  finish- 
ing or  feeding  plant  and  watch  the  superintendent  smile  when 
a  crate  of  Plymouth  Rocks  arrives  or  go  into  the  dressing 
room  or  finally  into  the  dressed  poultry  boxes.  Ask  a  dealer 
to  see  a  sample  of  the  boxes  of  dressed  poultry  of  prime 
quality  that  he  has  to  offer  the  trade  and  in  nine  cases  out  of 
ten  he  will  show  a  box  of  Plymouth  Rocks.  All  of  which 
must  mean  that  to  date  the  Plymouth  Rock  is  still  America's 
banner  market  chicken.  It  has  stood  the  test  of  time  and  is 
yet  the  market  fowl. 

What  is  there  to  the  Plymouth  Rock  that  makes  it  so  popu- 
lar as  a  market  bird?  First  they  are  vigorous.  That  is.  they 
withstand  disease  and  are  good  feeders.  You  do  not  want  a 
bird  that  is  not  a  good  feeder.  Fowls,  the  whims  of  whose 
appetite  you  have  to  study  hourly,  will  never  stand  the  test  of 
time.  The  Plymouth  Rock  is  a  good  feeder,  and  stands  second 
to  no  breed  under  forced  feeding  or  special  finishing.  Right 
here  is  where  its  abundance  of  vigor  comes  worth  while. 

The  second  consideration  is  that  the  lean  meat  or  muscles 
are  well  distributed  over  the  various  parts  of  the  body.  The 
breasts  are  well  muscled.  There  are  very  few  Plymouth  Rocks 
with  long,  high,  bare  breast  or  keel  bones.     There  is  fair  dis- 


424  AMERICAX  I'OLLTKY  ASSOCJATIOX 

tribution  of  both  light  and  dark  meat.  Hence  the  dressed 
birds  please  the  various  tastes  of  the  average  family.  Every- 
body does  not  want  white  meat,  very  few  want  a  hard,  dry, 
unbitable  chicken,  whether  it  is  dark  or  light  meat.  The  grain 
of  the  Plymouth  Rock  flesh  is  such  that  it  tends  to  be  juicy 
and  tender. 

The  third  consideration,  is  that  as  a  breed  Plymouth  Rocks 
are  smooth  skinned  and  elastic  fleshed.  They  have  a  pleasing 
appearance  when  dressed.  The  skin  of  the  bird,  when  the 
feathers  are  removed,  does  not  present  the  appearance  of  a 
horse-radish  grater,  but  is  smooth  and  mellow.  This  adds  very 
much  to  the  attractiveness  of  the  dressed  carcass  and  also  is 
one  of  the  best  quality  indicators. 

Last,  but  not  least,  the  fact  remains  that  in  the  dressed 
poultry  shows  held  in  this  country,  Plymouth  Rocks  have  won 
more  sweepstake  prizes  than  all  the  other  breeds.  They  are 
year  after  year  the  outstanding  dressed  fowls  in  the  shows. 

A  breed  of  poultry  which  pleases  the  large  packer  and 
makes  money  for  him,  which  is  bred  more  than  any  other 
breed  by  the  farmers,  which  wins  sweepstake  prizes  at  dressed 
poultry  shows  and  is  constantly  selected  on  the  market  by 
intelligent  housewives,  needs  no  argument  as  to  its  position 
or  qualification  as  a  market  bird.  The  fact  that  it  is  still  the 
most  popular  fowl  among  over  one  hundred  competitors  and 
has  been  the  popular  fowl  for  over  a  quarter  of  a  century  simply 
means  that  it  is  well  rooted  and  is  bearing  a  satisfactory  crop 
annually.     (W.  R.  G.) 


WHITE  PLYMOUTH  EOCK  CHICKS 
(Courtesy  Minnesota  AgricuHural  College) 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK 

CHAPTER  IV. 


425 


THE  PLYMOUTH  ROCK  AS  A   TABLE   FOWL. 

When  the  bird  has  been  properly  fattened  and  dressed, 
its  beautiful  rich  yellow  skin  and  plump  carcass  never  fails  to 
attract  attention  and  favorable  comment  and  to  command  the 
highest  market  price,  because  it  is  characteristic  of  the  breed 
that  after  the  birds  are  plucked  few  undesirable  pin  feathers 
are  left  to  detract  from  their  appearance. 

Every  part  of  the  Plymouth  Rock's  body  is  well  covered 
vrith  meat  which  is  rich  in  flavor,  fine  in  texture,  and,  when 
milk-fed  or  raised  under  proper  conditions  and  fed  abundantly, 
is  extremely  tender  and  juicy.  The  breast  and  thighs,  which 
are  recognized  as  the  two  choicest  portions  of  the  bird  for  table 
use,  are  especially  well  covered  with  flesh.  These  exceptional 
market  qualities,  combined  with  their  great  egg  laying  ability, 
class  them  as  one  of  the  greatest  American  breeds. 

Note. — The  qualities,  as  related  by  Messrs.  Quisenberry  and  Graham, 
are  ample  explanations  as  to  why  the  large  packers  and  feeding  estab- 
lishments favor  Plymouth  Rocks  over  all  other  breeds.  This  point 
brought  out  by  Mr.  Graham,  the  editor  has  taken  the  pains  to  verify. 
Furthermore,  these  concerns  agree  that  the  Plymouth  Rock  leads  all 
other  standard  breeds  in  numbers  receiA'ed  and  easilv. 


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SECTION     II. 

CHAPTER  I. 

PLYMOUTH  ROCKS  AS  PROLIFIC  EGG 
PRODUCERS 

PLYMOUTH  ROCK   EGGS. 

ALL  VARIETIES  of  Plymouth  Rocks  should  lay  mod- 
erately large,  tannish  brown  eggs.  Eggs  which  weigh 
twenty-four  ounces  to  the  dozen  are  recognized  as 
standard  in  weight,  but  the  average  Plymouth  Rock  pullet 
lays  eggs  which  exceed  this  weight.  As  hens,  they  usually  lay 
a  slightly  heavier  egg,  some  averaging  as  much  as  twenty- 
eight  otmces  or  more  to  the  dozen.  In  shape,  the  egg  is  spher- 
ically oblong,  tapering  slightly  to  one  end. 

The  Plymouth  Rock  egg  has  a  quality  of  contents,  and  a 
thickness  and  texture  to  the  skell  by  which  it  is  assured  of 
carrying  well  while  being  shipped  to  market  and  also  assures 
the  minimum  amount  of  evaporation  while  being  held  for 
hatching,  for  market  or  in  storage. 

Uniformity  of  shape  and  color,  and  freeness  from  wrinkles, 
rough  places  and  thin  shells  should  be  sought  for  by  all  breed- 
ers. Uniformity  largely  controls  the  appearance,  and  appear- 
ance seriously  affects  the  selling  price. 

Some  families  or  flocks  of  so-called  Plymouth  Rocks  lay 
eggs  which  are  very  much  under-sized,  misshaped,  thin  shelled 
and  of  many  colors.  The  country  abounds  in  flocks  of  this  kind 
which,  though  they  bear  a  certain  resemblance  to  standard- 
bred  Plymouth  Rocks,  usually  the  Barred  variety,  are  far  from 
having  the  qualities  of  the  latter  and  are,  in  fact,  very  inferior 
in  size,  productiveness  and  appearance,  and  they  are  not  stand- 
ard-bred Barred  Plymouth  Rocks  though  often  mistaken  for 
the  latter. 

The  qualities  of  the  eggs  can  be  controlled  to  a  large  ex- 
tent by  the  breeder.  By  selecting  and  hatching  from  eggs  of 
the  desired  shape  and  color,  and  by  using  only  males  and  fe- 
males for  breeding  purposes  which  have  been  hatched  from 
such   eggs,    one   can    soon   establish    a    flock   that    will    produce 

427 


428  AMERICAy  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

eggs  that  possess  these  quahties  to  a  reasonable  degree  of  cer- 
tainty. See  that  all  eggs  for  hatching  weigh  two  ounces  or 
more,  and  are  of  the  perfect  shape  desired,  and  with  firm,  sound 
shells  and  of  uniform  color.  Such  care  in  selection  and  breed- 
ing for  two  generations  will  make  a  remarkable  difference  in 
the  qualities  of  the  eggs,  and  if  continued,  will  insure  the  pro- 
duction of  a  very  large  per  cent  of  eggs  which  meet  the  market 
requirements  for  Plymouth  Rock  eggs.     (T.  E.  Q.) 


Barred  Plymouth  Kock  Pullet  No.  5501,  Purdue  University  Experi- 
ment Station.  Record^  166  eggs  in  182  days.  December  to  May,  in- 
clusive. 


I'LYMOITH  h'OCK  STAXDARD  AXD  BREED  BOOK  429 

CHAPTER  II. 

PLYMOUTH  ROCKS  IN  LAYING   CONTESTS. 

The  egg  laying  competitions  which  have  been  held  in 
America  have  proven  not  only  that  Plymouth  Rocks  lay  a 
sufficient  number  of  eggs  to  make  them  profitable  as  egg 
producers,  but  in  every  instance  that  Plymouth  Rocks  are 
among  the  best  as  layers.  They  have  also  demonstrated  the 
facts  that  Plymouth  Rocks  are  good  layers  in  winter  when 
eggs  are  highest  in  price;  that  they  begin  to  lay  when  from 
five  to  seven  months  of  age ;  and  that  they  lay  well  in  the  fall 
months  or  during  what  is  generally  recognized  as  the  moult- 
ing season. 

Plymouth  Rocks,  as  a  rule,  make  a  good  yearly  average 
and  an  especially  even  distribution  of  their  eggs  throughout 
the  year.  There  is  no  season  of  the  year  that  they  do  not  pro- 
duce a  reasonable  number  of  eggs.  In  one  contest  the  Plym- 
outh Rocks  distributed  their  eggs  throughout  the  year  as 
follows : 

30.2  eggs  per  pullet  in  December,  January  and  February. 
62.4  eggs  in  March,  April  and  May. 

45.3  eggs  in  June,  July  and  August. 

27.1  eggs  in  September.  October  and  November. 

All  varieties  of  Plymouth  Rocks  collectively,  have  aver- 
aged from  one  hundred  and  forty  to  one  hundred  and  ninety 
eggs  per  hen  each  year  in  practically  every  contest  which  has 
been  held  in  this  country. 

In  one  contest  the  pullets  which  averaged  five  pounds  in 
weight,  averaged  one  hundred  and  seventy-six  eggs  each ; 
those  weighing  six  pounds  averaged  one  hundred  and  fifty- 
eight  eggs  each ;  those  weighing  seven  pounds  averaged  one 
hundred  and  forty-two  eggs ;  and  those  weighing  eight  pounds 
averaged  one  hundred  and  twenty-two  eggs.  This  would  indi- 
cate that  the  females  slightly  under  standard  weight  were  the 
best  layers,  but  nevertheless,  it  is  best  to  adhere  to  standard 
weight  in  breeding  as  much  as  possible,  otherwise,  in  time,  the 
breed  might  become  too  small  to  be  classed  as  a  general  pur- 
pose fowl. 

The  highest  record  ever  made  by  a  pen  of  any  variety  in 
the  National  Contest  at  the  Missouri  State  Poultry  Experi- 
ment Station  was  made  by  a  pen  of  Barred  Plymouth  Rocks, 


430  AMERICAX  J'OI  I.Tin    Assor/ATIOX 

the  five  pullets  laying  one  thousand  one  hundred  and  eighty- 
five  eggs,  or  an  average  of  two  hundred  and  thirty-seven  eggs 
per  bird  in  twelve  months.  Barred  Plymouth  Rocks  won  the 
highest  honors  for  two  years  in  succession  at  this  contest. 

The  highest  individual  record  ever  made  by  one  pullet  of 
any  variety  at  the  same  Experiment  Station  was  made  by  a 
White  Plymouth  Rock  which  laid  three  hundred  and  four  eggs 
during  the  year.  This  bird  also  scored  ninety-two  and  one- 
half  points.  A  Barred  Plymouth  Rock  in  the  same  contest 
scored  ninety-two  and  one-half  points  and  laid  two  hundred 
and  fifty-four  eggs.  Buff  Plymouth  Rocks  which  laid  over 
two  hundred  eggs  in  the  same  contest  also  won  prizes  at  the 
Panama-Pacific  International  Exposition  Show.  These  facts 
plainly  show  that  high  scoring  Standard  Bred  Plymouth  Rocks 
can  also  lay  large  numbers  of  eggs. 

In  the  American  Egg  Laying  Contest,  the  highest  scoring 
Plymouth  Rocks  proved  to  be  the  best  layers.  Plymouth  Rocks 
led  throughout  most  of  this  contest. 

In  the  North  American  Contest  at  the  Delaware  College  of 
Agriculture  and  in  previous  contests  pens  of  Barred,  White. 
Buff  and  Columbian  Plymouth  Rocks  averaged  more  than  two 
hundred  eggs  per  bird,  or  over  one  thousand  eggs  in  a  year 
from  a  pen  of  five  pullets.  The  highest  individual  records 
made  in  this  contest  by  birds  of  this  breed  were  as  follows : 

White    Plymouth    Rock 247  eggs 

Buff  Plymouth  Rock • 250  eggs 

Partridge    Plymouth    Rock 200  eggs 

Columbian  Plymouth  Rock 287  eggs 

Barred    Plymouth    Rock 283  eggs 

In  the  International  Egg  Laying  Contest  at  the  Connecti- 
cut Agricultural  College,  it  was  found  that  only  one  breed  laid 
eggs  that  exceeded  those  of  the  Plymouth  Rocks  in  size.  Only 
one  breed  lost  less  time  in  broodiness  than  Plymouth  Rocks. 
If  the  birds  had  been  marketed  at  the  close  of  the  contest,  alive 
or  slaughtered,  the  returns  from  the  Plymouth  Rocks  would 
have  exceeded  all  others.  In  the  sixth  Annual  Contest  held  at 
that  place,  the  best  laying  pen  of  Plymouth  Rocks  were  of  the 
Barred  variety  and  the  ten  pullets  laid  two  thousand,  one  hun- 
dred and  nineteen  eggs  during  the  year.  The  best  individual 
record  was  by  a  Barred  Plymouth  Rock  that  laid  277  eggs. 

In  the  International  Egg  Laying  and  Breeding  Contest 
conducted    by   the    New   Jersey    Experiment    Station,    a   White 


PLYMOITU  ROCK  STAXDAh'D  AM)  BREED  BOOK  A'M 

Plymouth  Rock  won  first  place,  with  a  record  of  three  hundred 
and  one  eggs ;  a  Columbian  Plymouth  Rock  was  in  third  place, 
with  two  hundred  and  eighty-eight  eggs  to  her  credit ;  and  a 
Barred  Plymouth  Rock  won  fifth  place,  with  a  record  of  two 
hundred  and  seventy-eight  eggs ;  three  of  the  highest  records 
being  made  by  Plymouth  Rocks,  with  one  thousand  pullets 
of  different  varieties  competing ;  the  best  Plymouth  Rock  pen 
records  of  ten  birds  each  being  as  follows :  Barred  Plymouth 
Rock,  1956  eggs;  White  Plymouth  Rocks,  1985  eggs,  and 
Columbian  Plymouth   Rocks.   1854  eggs. 

The  Plymouth  Rocks  entered  in  the  First  All  Northwestern 
Egg  Laying  Contest  demonstrated  their  winter  laying  quali- 
ties and  ranked  among  the  breeds  as  follows : 

From  October  15th  to  October  30th,  1916,  second  in  aver- 
age egg  production  per  fowl. 

For  the  month  of  November,  second  in  average  egg  pro- 
duction per  fowl ;  second  in  actual  profit  per  average  fowl. 

For  the  month  of  December,  third  in  average  egg  produc- 
tion per  fowl. 

For  the  month  of  January,  1917,  first  in  average  egg  pro- 
duction.    (T.   E.  Q.) 


PAETEIUGE    PLYMOUTH    EOCK    CHICKS 


432 


.l.lVA'A'/r.l.V  POULTRY  AfiSOC/ AT/OS 


At  the  left,  the  White  Plymouth  Rock  hen,  Lady-Show  \'ou,  No. 
717  in  the  Mountain  Grove  (Missouri)  egg-laying  contest,  November, 
1911,   to   November,   1912. 

Lady-Show-You  sold  for  $800  after  making  a  record  of  281  eggs 
in  twelve  months.  Even  with  this  number  to  her  credit,  Lady-Show- 
You  did  not  lay  an  imperfect  egg.  The  industry  that  is  characteristic 
of  a  good  layer  was  displayed  in  this  case.  Lady-Show-You  invariably 
spent  the  day  out  of  doors  if  allowed  to  do  it,  and  usually  laid  early 
in  the  morning.  She  also  shows  the  conformation  we  expect  to  see 
in  a  good  layer,  broad  across  the  hips,  large  in  heart  girt.  When 
handled,  her  body  feels   firm,  well   filled   out   and   muscular. 

At  the  right,  a  Barred  Plymouth  Rock  hen  with  a  high  and  very 
creditable  egg  record  and  which  shows  much  the  same  type  as  the 
White  Plymouth  Rock. 


ft.  C.  State  Coihg€ 


/'/.), I/O/  77/    A*Or/v    STWDAI,'!)  WD   lih'i:i:i>  H(H)I\ 


INDEX 

PAGE 
Aineriean  Standard  of  Perfection,  Introduetiou  to  the   1915  Revised 

Edition    3 

Applying   the   Comparison    System 29 

Back    122 

Back    of    Female KH 

Backs,    Ideal    and    Defective 12:5 

Male,    Defective     124 

Female,    Defective     125 

Back   Yard   Flock,   The 398 

Bennett 's   Early   Plymouth    Rocks 64 

Bodies,    Male    Defective 124 

Bodies,    Female    Defective 125 

Body   and   Fluff 12.S 

Breast   127 

BREEDING  OF  DOMESTIC  FOWLS. 

In-Breeding     50 

In-Breeding,    Limits    of 50 

Injudicious    In-Breeding 5.'i 

Like   Begets    Like 5(5 

Line-Breeding    52 

Princijjles    of    Breeding 5() 

Offset    Defects    57 

Out-Crossing    51 

Resting    Males    54 

Strain   Building    52 

[Tniformity     in 58 

Wliy  Like  Begets   Like 5H 

CO(!HINS— Black    Cochins    in    America 77 

Black   fJochins   in  England 7(1 

Cochins    and    .lavas 79 

Color  Terms,    Kxjilanation   of .';5 

(;OMB   112 

Base    of    1 1 ;'. 

Blade    of    li:; 

Carriage    of     1 1 ."« 

Outline   of    IP'. 

Points   of    IKi 

Size   of    IP! 

Combs,    Defective    (111. ) 117,  V.V.\ 

(Conditioning,  The  Art  of :i67 

Conditioning   Fowls   for    Kxhibition ;i()5 

Constitutional    Vigor    59 

(Copyright    2 

Corrective  Breeding,   1.    (111.)     141 

(^Corrective  Breeding,  11.    (III.)     142 

Corrective  Breeding,   HI.     (III.)     14:; 


4:U  AMIJUICAX   I'Ot  l/l'liV  ASSOC/  \'l'/()\ 

PAGE 

Corrective  Breeding,  IV.    (111.)    l-t4 

Corrective  Breeding,  V.     (111.)     146 

Cutting  for   Defects 31 

Defects,  Common,  in    Plymouth   Rock    IMumage 148 

Definitions   of   Technical   Terms,   see    Glossary    of    Technical 

Terms    1 4-25 

Development   of   Domestic   Fowls 40 

Disinfectants,   The   Use   of 405 

DOMESTIC   FOWLS— Breeding   of 44 

In-Breeding  of    50 

Limits    of    In-Breeding 50 

Mating   of    44 

Origin  and  Development   of 40 

Out-Crossing    51 

System    of    Mating    of 45 

Early  American   Importations 42 

Early  Days  of  the  New  Breed 9fi' 

Examination  of  Candidates  for  Show  Honors -ifiO 

FEEDING— During   a   Journev 3S1 

For    Color    ' Ml 

The    Breeding    Flock 4()t) 

White    Birds     20S,     ;!71 

Feeds    and    Feeding s;{5 

General    Disciualifications   for   Plymouth    Rocks :{() 

General  Discjualifications,  Discussion  of ;!55 

General   Purpose   Fowl   Demanded <i4 

Glossary    of    Technical    Terms 14-25 

Hatching   and    Brooding 411 

Heads  of  Males,  Defective   (111.) 117 

Heads  of  Females,  Defective    (111.) \:V.\ 

Health  of  the  Breeding  Flock  in  Confinement 409 

Housing  the   Flock 400 

Incentive    to    Poultry   Keeping 41 

Individual  Disposition    54 

Influence  of  Health  on  Shape  and  Color i;;9 

Interior    Ecjuipment    4li.'; 

Introduction    s 

Introduction   to   1915   Revised   Edition ;: 

JUDGING    PLYMOUTH    ROCKS— Instructions    for 2(i,     349 

American  Breeds    ."{51 

By  the   Standard .352 

Color  Defects    29 

Comparative    System    29 

Cutting    for    Defects :\] 

Dated   Score    Cards 2<S 

Defective    Score    Cards 28 

Disqualifying    Weights     29 

Faking    ^S 

Handling    29 

Merit 26 

Old   and   Young   Specimens   Competing 28 


PLYMOITH  ROCK  8TAXDAKD  AND  BRRFJ)  BOOK  48." 

PAGE 

Private   Scoring   28 

Proper   Tail   Carriage    (111. ) '^^•2. 

Eevj-eighing    27 

Eules   Governing  Sweepstakes 27 

Scaly    Legs    29 

Scores  of  Exhibition   Pens 2cS 

Ties    2S 

Weight    26 

Typical    Shape    29 

Like  Begets  Like   56 

Line-Breeding    52 

List    of    Authors 9 

Male  One-Half  the  Flock 59 

Male  Parent  of  the  Plymouth  Eock 91 

MATING— Barred   Plymouth    Eocks 158 

By  Natural  Selection 44 

bV    Artificial    Selection 44 

Buff    Plymouth    Eocks 242 

Columbian    Plymouth    Eocks '.V.W 

Partridge    Plymouth    Eocks 294 

Silver-Penciled    Plymouth    Eocks 255 

White    Plymouth    Eocks 20:! 

MATINGS— Advantages   of   Two    Matings 1H4 

Double     4(i 

General  Methods  of,  To  Overcome  Defects  in   Shape 140 

Intermediate    4(i 

Large     54 

Single    45 

Special  Matings  an  Old  Established  Institution 165 

Stud ry.\ 

Systems   of    45 

Systems  of,  In  Early  Days 169 

To  Produce  Exhibition  Specimens   (Barred   Plymouth  Eocks)  158 

Mendelism    55 

Mr.  Eamsdell  's  Account    72 

Mr.  Upham  's  Account  of  Origin    69 

Mr.  Upham 's  Account,  Vital   Points  in 71 

Neck    118 

Neck  of  Female 184 

Nomenclature   of  the  Male    (111.) 12 

Nomenclature  of  the  Female    (111.) 13 

Origin   of  Domestic  Fowls 40 

Out-Crossing    51 

PLUMAGE— Barred    Plvmouth    Bocks 148 

Buff    Plymouth    Eocks 216 

Character  of — Affecting  Form  and  Outline 188 

Columbian    Plymouth    Eocks 812 

Partridge  Plymouth  Eocks 275 

Silver   Penciled   Plymouth   Eocks 248 

White    Plymouth    Eocks 202 


4.:(;  AMERICAN  POILTUY  ASSOC/ .[T/()\ 

PAGE 

PLYMOUTH   EOCKS— All    Varieties 62 

Drake    Strain    of 99 

English   Opinions   as   to   Origin SI 

Essex  Strain  of Ki;; 

Essex   County    Strain    of 1 1 1 1 

Instructions    for    Judging I'd 

Gilnian    Strain    of IdO 

Judging     ;',;")  I 

Name,   How   Selected I(i4 

Origin  and  Early  Development  of (i:; 

Eamsdell  Strain  of !»S 

1910  Scale  of  Points  for ;!4S 

Shape   of    lOS 

Spaulding  Strain   of    97 

Uphani  's   Account    of   Origin 69 

Upham    Strain    of 97 

I'LYMOUTH   ROCKS— Columbian. 

Color  of   :!  1 :; 

Color    of   Female ;;  1  :i 

Color    of   Male :!  1 2 

Mating    :',:\{) 

Origin   and    Karly    DeveloiJUient   of :!!)") 

Plumage    of     .'illi 

I'lymouth    Eock,  Early  Development   of (i.". 

Plymouth  Eock  Shape,  Defects  of 1  1 12 

PLYMOUTH  EOCK  COMB— Blade  of 11.1 

Base   of    1 1 :; 

Carriage  of    1 1  :i 

Outline   of    1 1 ;: 

Points  of   116 

Size   of    1 1 ;: 

PLYMOUTH  EOCK,  BUFF— BufiP  Plymouth   Eo.-k  Color 1220 

Color  Defects  Accounted  For L'12S 

Color  of  Male  and  Female 216 

Common  Defects  of  Buff  Color 12LM 

Development   of   Buff   Color lil(> 

Matings    IML' 

Origin  and  Early   Development  of 20!!' 

PLYMOUTH  EOCKS,   PAETEIDGE— Color  of  Female 27',,  276 

Color    of   Male 275 

Mating    29+ 

Origin  and  Early  Development   266 

Plumage  of   275 

PLYMOUTH   EOCKS,   SILVEE-PENCILED— Color   of  Female....  245 

Color    of   Male 245 

Description   of    248 

Mating    255 

Origin  and  Early  Development 24.''. 

Plumage    245 

Plumage  Defects  and  How  to  Overcome  Them.  , .  .  .  , > .  262: 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  STAXDARD  A\D  BREED  HOOK  487 

I'AGE 
PLYMOUTH  EOCK  STANDAED  AND  BEEED  BOOK— 

Contents,  Table   of    1 " 

Contents,  Part  I.,   Table   of    11 

Contents,  Part  II.,   Table   of ^iS' 

Contents,  Part  III.,   Table    of <il 

Contents,  Part  IV.,    Table    of •"'42 

Contents,  Part  V.,    Tabic    of 'li'- 

Contents,  Part  VI.,    Table    of 4 lit 

Introduction    to    •'^ 

Preface  to    -^ 

PLYMOUTH  EOCKS,  WHITE— Color  of  Male   and  Female 202 

Defects   of   White    Plumage 20o 

Mating    -•^';'' 

Oi-igin  and  Early  Development  of P':'. 

Eecognition  by  American   Poultry   Association 1!»7 

I'oultry   Keeping,   Incentive   to 41 

Poultry  Keeping  Introduced  into   Europe 41 

I'oultry  Keeping,  First  Authentic  Accounts  of 42 

Preface    •'' 

Prepotency     -i^ 

Prepotency,    Value    of •'>'•' 

Sanitation    404 

Score  Cards    (Official) -;'■ 

Selection    of    Show    Birds -"''ill 

Sex  Control   of  Character ■">•' 

SHAPE  OF  PLYMOUTH  EOCKS los 

Common  Defects  of   Plymouth   Eocks 112 

Male,  Ideal  and  Defective 1 40 

SHAPE— Counts  More   Thau   Color.     Why f 1  ■".7 

Female,  Ideal   and  Defective l:!2,  i:;.") 

Importance    of    1  -iT 

Mating  to  Overcome  Defects  in 1  .'.7 

Shape    Perfection   Unattained 1 44 

Typical    :-'>>i 

Shanks    and    Toes 12'.l 

Shipping  to    Shows ."{TS 

Size    and    Condition :'.n<> 

Skull    lis 

Slow   Feathering    1  'M\ 

Kciuipment,  Interior    40.'! 

Standard   Measurements    34 

Standard,   Judge 's    Guide 352 

Standard,  Judging   by 353 

Standard   Scale    of   Points 38,  343 

First   Poultry    343 

First   Scale   of   Points,   American 346 

First  Scale  of  Points,  American   Class 346 

First   Scale  of   Points,   Brahmas 345 

Scale  of  Points  for  Plvmouth  Eocks,  Modern 3>47 

Scale  of  Points  for  Plymouth  Eocks,  1910 348 

Scale  of  Points  for  White  Leghorns 346' 


4:;s  l.l//;A'/r.4A    J'OI  LTRY  ASSOCIATIOX 

PAGE 

strain  Building    52 

Symmetry  and  Awkwardness    (111.) 140 

Tail    ...'. 126 

Tail,  Female,  Defective    (111.) 125 

Tail,   Female ]:u 

Tail,  Male,  Defective    (111.) 1 24 

Taming  Show  Birds ;;72 

Type   vs.   Shape i;{() 

Type  Faulty    i;^(i 

Types,  Geographical    42 

Types,  American    4:'. 

Types,  English  in  America 4."i 

Variation   in   Early   Types 40 

Views  of  Early  Writers 7."! 

Washing  White  Fowls ;i7;! 

Wattles  and  Ear  Lobes  of  Males,  Defective ; 117 

Wattles  and  Ear  Lobes  of  Females,  Defective l.S.'> 

Why  Like  Begets  Like 5() 

Wings    Hi) 

Wings,   Defective    120,  121 


